Jul. 14—Events planned across the area will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Quecreek Mine Rescue by honoring the men who survived the tragedy-turned-"miracle," the responders who came to their aid and the Somerset community itself.

The gatherings will include a Miners Night on Saturday at Jennerstown Speedway, a car cruise at Christ Casebeer Church and food trucks and special events at the Haupt Road rescue site, organizers said.

"It's an incredibly special moment," Arnold said of the 20th anniversary. "This is a story that, thankfully, people aren't willing to forget."

For Arnold, it's not just a chance to tell the story of the miners miraculously rescued that day — but also everyday heroes who worked to save them — and the first responders who work tirelessly everyday when fellow residents are in need.

"As the miners will tell you, 'They are the true heroes. It's the state police, firefighters, EMTs and search and rescue teams who are on the front lines everyday helping people ... when no one is paying attention." he said.

If it weren't for MSHA, drilling companies and the rest of then-Gov Mark Schweiker's team, "we would have died down there," Quecreek Miner John Unger said.

"It was them — not us — that deserved the attention. I've always believed that," said Unger, 72.

Millions across the globe followed the sometimes minute-by-minute updates of the 77-hour effort to save the nine trapped men whose group breached an adjacent, unmapped mine June 24, 2022.

Before the last of them was hoisted from below ground in a yellow capsule, hundreds of local, state and federal volunteers played roles in the effort.

To commemorate the event, two straight weekends of events will start off-site Saturday at Jennerstown Speedway.

The surviving Quecreek miners will be guests of honor, with former Gov Mark Schweiker also in attendance, Arnold said. A tribute to the miners will be held during a "Race Night" intermission.

Remembering 'Harpo'

The night will include a tribute to Dennis "Harpo" Hall, Arnold said. Hall — the seventh miner rescued from the mine in 2002 — passed away May 13 at the age of 68.

Hall, Schweiker said, is gone but not forgotten and the speedway tribute is one of several that will be made during events this month.

"We'll never forget his control under pressure and his care for the other team of nine who were able to exit the mine that day," Schweiker said. "We'll all miss him."

The following day, on July 17, a Car Cruise will be held at Christ Casebeer Church, which sits adjacent to the Haupt Road rescue site.

The lot will open at 11 a.m. and cars wills will be on display from noon to 4 p.m.

"Rescuer Day" will be held July 22 at the the museum site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Representatives from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, DEP and rescue teams will attend, Arnold said.

They'll be joined by firefighters, EMS, state and county law enforcement, search and rescue teams — with some of them offering demonstrations to show how tools used in emergency rescues operate, Arnold said.

MSHA is planning to bring in a tractor-trailer full of mine rescue equipment and officials who were at the scene that day are expected to attend.

"We're trying to get as many of the original rescuers back as we can," he said.

The day of events will also food trucks, Arnold said.

On July 23, "Family Day" will draw attention to the rescue site's roots as a farm, with hay rides, a petting zoo and a pig raffle.

The event will start at 10 a.m. with a flag ceremony by the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Attendees will be able to see tractors and other farm equipment up close, while children's activities will also be offered.

The story of the rescue will be told every 90 minutes in the museum's education building, Arnold said.

On Sunday, July 24 events will wrap in Pittsburgh, where the Quecreek Nine will be honored at a Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Florida Marlins.

For the 1 p.m. game, surviving miners will take the field for an opening pitch.

They'll also be launching T-shirts into the crowd, Arnold said.

"It's going to be great to get everyone together again," he said.