Today, April 5, is the second anniversary of the disaster at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch (W.Va.) mine where an explosion that mine safety experts say could have been prevented killed 29 coal miners.

Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts says, “Today is a day for us to pause and think about the families…. Let us continue to keep the families of the victims in our hearts and our prayers.”

They have suffered more than most of us can imagine, and the pain of losing their loved ones is something that will be with them every single day. They have a hole in their hearts that can never be fully healed, but, through continued love and prayers from all of us, we can hope they may eventually find some measure of peace.