Job which is also the mission

Guys who go to the place, where the others running away. On December 9th, twenty-five mine rescue workers from the Main Mine Rescue Station in Ostrava, mine rescue stations in individual mines of OKD and other units in the jurisdiction of HBZS (Main Mine Rescue Station) accepted Bronze, Silver and Gold Rescue Merit Cross as a reward for successful actions, long dedicated work and activity for the development of mining rescue.

In the darkened hall of memorial Mining Museum in Ostrava Landek Park, where is the blackboard on the front wall with the names of 103 rescuers who lost their lives in rescue actions, Ivo Pěgřímek, Chairman of the Czech Mine Authority (CMA), gave them medals. Awarded rescuers also were present in a ceremonial banquet in compressor hall of Anselm mine.

Management of OKD, HBZS headed by director Joseph Kasper has prepared traditional event to celebrate the Day of St. Barbara. It was attended by senior management of OKD, Klaus-Dieter Beck, directors and senior employees of mines, representatives of mining towns and municipalities and other guests. Wives and partners of the awarded were also invited, because without their understanding, the rescue workers couldn´t perform their demanding work with full passion and dedication.

Representatives of Polish Mining Rescue Services with the Deputy of the Central Mine Rescue Station in Bytom Mirosław Bagińský came to greet Czech colleagues. "The work of mine rescuer is not just a job, but also the mission," said Kasper with the fact that this year alone HBZS had 270 medical trips, during which doctors and rescuers treated 303 persons. "On the Board of honor in Memorial Hall of Dead Rescue Workers are 103 names of our friends, who remind us how demanding and risky is our profession. My biggest wish is that no new
name will be in this list, "said Kasper.

Ivo Pěgřímek, CMA Chairman, thanked awarded rescuers. He expressed a deep respect for this profession and urge them to continue with the same commitment in their difficult and demanding work in the future. Ivo Pěgřímek was also awarded by Golden Rescue Merit Cross for the development of mine rescue, longtime activity in Mining Rescue Service and participation in the solving of serious operational accidents.

Bohuslav Krzyžanek