[DevilsWin]

In the 1920's and 30's both of my grandfather's lived and worked in Floyd County. Their fathers before them worked in the coal mines.
They wanted a better life for their sons and their sons(my Grandfathers) wanted to do better for themselves. They both traveled north with help and support form their fathers(my Great Grandfathers) to find a better job so their children(my parents) could live outside of the isolation of the mountains.
One of them got a job working on the C&O Railroad and years later retired. The other after joining the US Army and seving in the Pacific during WW2 and earning a Bronze Star for Valor got a job at the Ashland Works Steel Milling Co(Armco, AK Steel) and later retired there.

I went to Floyd Co last year with my father for the very first time to visit with some of his cousins(who are in their 80's now) that he hadn't seen in nearly 40 years.Thsi is not the only time I have visited Floyd Co. Just the first time to visit with family. After talking to them I realized how different my life might have been if my grandparents hadn't made the decision to move to Ashland.

They saw the writing on the wall.

I know and understand the problems facing families in the mountains. They don't want a hand out. They don't want sympathy. All they want is a way to better themselves. Coal for so long was the only way to earn a good living. With the exception of earning a scholarship to go to college. Or taking over in the family business.
That state of mind has endured for decades and I'll tell you why. It is a proven method of survival. Fight for your job , fight for your family, fight for coal.
I understand how all of you feel and why you feel the way you do. But the winds of change are upon us and the land that has provided our families prosperity for so many generations is under attack.

Not from coal miners, but rather Coal Barrons.

Coal is not King anymore.

Good luck and God Bless.