The City of Logan believes in the importance of coal to the nation’s economy and to keeping our country free and strong. That much was obvious this past weekend when the City of Logan made coal a central theme of its Freedom Festival.
Friends of Coal signs were posted on almost every utility pole and in every business window. Friends of Coal banners hung across the streets in the grandstand area along with the familiar “Coal Keeps the Lights On!” signs of Walker Machinery and the green-and-white signs of the Coalition for Mountaintop Mining.
Mayor Serafino Noletti said his city is proud of the coal industry and of its coal miners. Rupie Phillips, busy roasting corn at the Beni Kedem Shriners’ booth, said it isn’t a stretch to combine the themes of coal and the nation’s independence. “Coal has built this country,” Phillips said. “As so many have said, it is the foundation of this country’s economy, has helped win its wars and here in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky it is our bridge to the future, through the use of these former surface mines as sites for so many economic and community development projects.
“The folks around here recognize the importance of coal. It puts food on our tables and pays our bills. It sends our kids to college and provides for our future. We just want everyone to know that West Virginia supports the coal miner.”
The Friends of Coal joined the Citizens for Coal at informational booths near the Logan County Courthouse. Friends of Coal filmed “man-on-the-street” interviews with several local residents. These videos will be posted to the West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal websites over the next few days.