9-for-9, Nine Years Later

It’s been 9 years since the famous “9 for 9” rescue at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County.
All 9 men were pulled out of the flooded mine alive, after nearly 80 hours underground. It was a dramatic success story unparalleled, until last year’s rescue of 33 Chilean miners.
Memorial ceremonies began over the weekend, according to the Somerset County Daily American:

On Saturday, at the Quecreek Mine Rescue site at Dormel farm near Somerset, people took part in the anniversary celebration of their rescue and got a look at the new visitor’s center.
“Sometimes it seems like it was yesterday that the rescue was ongoing,” said Bill Arnold, president of the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation and owner of the farm.
“Sometimes it seems like it was a lifetime ago. It is always very special to know that we have come to another year, another celebration of nine men being rescued successfully and all 18 men who were in the mine returned safely back to their families.”

Meantime, the work continues on a permanent visitors center, with the goal of completing construction by next year’s 10-year anniversary of the rescue.
Want more context on the story? Check out the online book Post-Gazette reporters wrote about the accident and rescue.

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