One Appalachian writer's reflections on the mine disaster and Obama's visit

President Obama "won many West Virginia hearts with his sincerity, understanding and commitment to follow through with improved safety measures, and to get to the bottom of this tragedy by conducting a thorough investigation," during his Sunday speech at the memorial service for miners, freelancer Betty Lewis writes for The Rural Blog.

When I walked out of the Beckley arena following the service, a reporter for USA Today stopped me. He wanted to know if one of the dead miners was a family member. I told him, “No.” He asked, “Why did you come?”

“I am from a coal-mining community in this area. I came to support the miners and their families. We are ONE: One family, One community.” (Read more)