HEGINS - Earl W. Kieffer left a legacy in anthracite coal mining that will be commemorated at this year's 29th annual Independent Coal Miners Picnic, noon Saturday at Hegins Park.
Kieffer, who died Nov. 21 at age 83, was president of Hegins Mining Company, and his image is featured on this year's memorial miners' mug for the picnic.
For a $20 donation, participants will have access to live and pre-produced entertainment, raffles and a meal at 4 p.m., that includes hot soup, cold cuts and more. Christian Abraham, of Connecticut, will be filming the festivities for archiving purposes. The footage will then be edited and combined with other film by Hegins local Ozzie Tollefson.
Live entertainment will consist of DJ Gold Dust and bands that include Old Gold, and the Breaker Boys - who will be performing a re-enactment of the original coal miners. The pre-produced activity will be a screening of Mark Brodzik's documentary, "Hard Coal," which features picnic organizer, David A. Lucas, of Hegins.
Other features of this year's picnic include the traditional "Miner's Prayer," conducted by the Rev. Curtis Zemencik before the meal. In addition to the prayer, the names of memorialized and honored independent miners will be read from this year's commemorative mug. While many mugs have been pre-sold, Lucas says that there are select amounts of the glassware that will be available for purchase at the picnic for a $7 donation.
In addition to Kieffer, miners featured on the 2013 mug include James Clough, George J. Smutz, Bob Reinoehl, Philip J. Stine, Alfred C. Lucas Jr., William Shade, Larry Madenford Jr., Ronald C. Roseman, Marlin J. Bush, Earl L. Bender, Ernest Roy Morgan, Randy E. Wenrich and Walter W. Harner.
Mining memorabilia will also be on display for sale and chance. Included in these items are hats, T-shirts available in a variety of different colors, a miner statue donated by Patterson Block, hand-crafted dozer and dump trucks donated by Butch Stiely of Sacramento, and seven tons of coal from various mines to be chanced off.
The picnic will be held rain or shine and all are welcome to attend. For more information on this year's event, call Lucas at 682-9140.