West Virginian mining advocate Creed Holden told International Longwall News that it is time for the US to recognise the industry by expanding Miners' Day - that has been held on December 6 in West Virginia since 2006 - nationwide.
"Miners provide the elemental and mineral resources that, both figuratively and literally, help create the commodities, the foundations and the structures upon which people rely," Holden said.
"Just take a few minutes to analyse almost anything around you, and you will find that, in some way, a miner of some kind has been involved."
Holden has urged members of the mining community and West Virginia state senator Robert C Byrd to support his cause.
"The miners of the United States have labored long and hard and sacrificed greatly to help build our country. They deserve a commemorative day in their honor, to say the least," he explained in a letter to Byrd and members of the mining industry.
"I hope you believe, as I do, that these unsung and humble people, who have given so much, deserve a day in their honor."
He said anybody supporting the establishment of the National Miner's Day should contact Senator Boyd and urge him to sponsor the initiative.
The December 6 date was chosen to commemorate the Monongah mine disaster in 1907, which Holden said is known as the worst mining disaster in US history with an official death toll of 362.
