The anniversary will remembered this week with several special events and commemorations near the mine site in Somerset, which will culminate July 28 with the anniversary ceremony at the operation.

“The rescue was a miracle, there's no other way to describe it,” Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation executive director Bill Arnold said.

He is the owner of the family farm where the rescue of the nine workers from the mine, these days owned by Russian producer Severstal Resources, took place.

“People from all over the world have come to learn about the rescue, what coal mining is all about and how everyone worked together to save the lives of the miners.”

The Quecreek mine accident began when section miners, due to old and inaccurate maps, broke through into an abandoned mine that then inundated the active mine with more than 150 million gallons of water.

While nine made it out of the mine before the rush of water closed off the entries, nine men remained trapped in a pocket of air in a higher portion of the water-filled workings.

With state and federal mine rescue crews working together with hundreds of workers and volunteers, all nine were rescued four days later – in what became known as “nine for nine”

Considering the tragedy left in the wake of some accidents recorded since that week in July 2002, the “celebration of life, community and determination” is even more significant.

“A community of people – coal miners, state and federal rescue workers, coal companies and Somerset community volunteers – came together to achieve a single objective – rescuing nine men trapped 190 feet below the ground and return them to their families,” Arnold said.

“It is a tremendous example of determination and the Pennsylvania spirit to never give in to overwhelming odds, that is why we are calling this celebration 'The Triumph of the American Spirit'.”

The events planned for this week include an industry day with a special presentation by rescue equipment maker Center Rock, which developed the capsule that brought the miners to the surface; a miners’ reunion on July 26; a dinner and silent auction event, and a celebration ceremony featuring former governor Mark Schweiker.

The Quecreek mine site, which receives about 10,000 visitors annually, became part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historical Marker Program in 2006.

The site also is an affiliate of the state’s Senator John Heinz History Center in 2010.