It's been almost five years since the rescue at Quecreek Mine, but few have forgotten those five dramatic July days in 2002.

	John Beale, Post-Gazette
	An animated Gov. Mark Schweiker talks to the press at 3:30 a.m., just 45 minutes after the last miner was rescued from the Quecreek Mine in 2002. Behind Schweiker is Dr. Richard Kunkle, of the Special Medical Response Team, who evaluated each man as he was brought up. In the foreground is the poster board where each man's name, age and time of rescue was listed. Click photo for larger image. Related Coverage See "All Nine Alive! The story of the Quecreek Mine rescue" a special report from Aug. 4, 2002.
	Marty Ginter, Commonwealth Media Services
	Rescue workers cheer and applaud when Blaine Mayhugh is pulled to safety. Just 15 minutes later, Mayhugh's father-in-law Tom Foy, also would be rescued.

Onlookers who held their breath haven't forgotten. Neither have hundreds of rescuers and volunteers. And Stinky, Tucker, Ung, Flathead, Boogie, Moe, Hound Dog, Harpo and the Boss certainly aren't likely to, either.

Those nine miners spent a harrowing 77 hours trapped underground when the mine flooded.

Miraculously, all were pulled out alive through the efforts of determined rescuers.

On Saturday, a celebration at the mine rescue site on the Arnold Farm in Somerset will mark the fifth anniversary of the day the miners emerged from the damp.

Music will be sung and poems will be read. Former Gov. Mark Schweiker, who led state rescue efforts and earned praise for his handling of the situation, will give the keynote speech. Joseph Sbaffoni, director of deep mine safety for the state Department of Environmental Protection, also will be speaking.

Most of the miners will be there. Robert "Boogie" Pugh said he visits the site once a year, and wants to thank his rescuers at the anniversary celebration.

Not all the miners plan on attending. Mark "Moe" Popernack, for one, will be out of town.

"That is one week I will never work again," he said. "The family and I are going to the beach."

Mr. Popernack works as a truck dispatcher for PBS Coals, Inc. He said that he thought about going back into the mines, but did not want to alarm his family.

"It wouldn't bother me at all, but my family wouldn't care too much for that," he said.

Of the nine miners, only Randall Fogle has returned underground.

The others have chosen lesser-paying jobs -- some mine-related -- or retirement over going back to a job that nearly took their lives. They say they are not in dire financial straits -- it has been reported that each miner received $150,000 from Disney for the movie rights to their story.

The movie, The Pennsylvania Miners' Story, elicited mixed reactions from the miners. Mr. Pugh watched it once, but "it brings back old memories," he said. "I can't watch it no more." Mr. Popernack, on the other hand, had no problem being a consultant on the set.

No matter how they feel about watching and reliving their experiences on-screen, and no matter how they've dealt with employment in the aftermath, they still feel the impact of the accident on their lives.

"I have trouble sleeping a lot," said Mr. Pugh. "I have good days and bad days."

"It just makes you appreciate life a little bit more," said Mr. Popernack.

Mr. Pugh agreed. "I used to take things for granted, and I don't take them that way no more," he said. "I got a second chance, and I like it."

Others were also deeply affected by the accident and subsequent rescue, and the anniversary celebration provides a forum for them to share their memories.

Mr. Schweiker, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, has not kept in touch with the miners. But, he said, he still considers the rescue one of the defining moments of his tenure as governor.

"I haven't forgotten the experience of looking in the eyes of the families who were at the firehouse awaiting any news," said Mr. Schweiker. "I'm a father and a husband, and can relate to spouses and sons and daughters because it was just a wretched time for them."

The anniversary celebration, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will feature special guided tours of the Monument for Life, a flag-raising ceremony by local Boy Scouts and demonstrations by those involved in rescue operations.

Some of the miners say they're tired of all the attention. But with book signings and autograph and photo opportunities also listed on the day's agenda, it could be a while before they finally get some peace and quiet.