Part 2/9:
Wes, a fifth-generation coal miner, shared his family's history intertwined with the industry. He reflects on how coal mining was established in the area over a century ago and shaped the lives of countless families. Wes's own family story mirrors that of many—his grandfather tragically lost his life in a mining accident, emblematic of the dangers that loomed over the profession. He recalls the days when coal was hand-dug, where mining was more of a communal effort, and how it has now dwindled to almost non-existence in his community.