For 54 years, the Silver Valley’s mining community has gathered on May 2 to remember the 91 men who never made it home after the Sunshine Mine Disaster of 1972. On Saturday morning, hundreds gathered at the Sunshine Miners Memorial near Big Creek to pay their respects. 

The ceremony traditionally begins at 11 a.m., not for convenience, but because it closely aligns with the hour when events underground forever altered life above ground. 

At approximately 11:40 a.m. on May 2, 1972, two electricians working on the 3,700 level of the Sunshine Mine detected the smell of smoke drifting near their shop. Rescue efforts were quickly hampered as smoke spread rapidly through the mine, pushed by the fire’s location near the fresh-air intake system. By 1:02 p.m., the No. 10 Hoist could no longer be operated safely. 

Of the 173 men who entered the mine that morning, 80 escaped. Of the 93 who remained trapped, 91 died. 

Each year, the memorial ceremony includes music, prayer and a message from a speaker with a personal connection to either the disaster or the mining community. This year’s speaker was Paul Huet, president and CEO of Americas Gold and Silver. 

Huet, a 38-year mining veteran, now operates the Galena Mine near Wallace. In the late 1980s, he entered the mining industry just three days after graduating high school, arriving from Canada as a young miner eager to work. He said the brotherhood of mining is unlike anything else — something he knows resonates deeply with the people of the Silver Valley. 

“No matter where you are in the world, miners care for each other,” Huet said. 

As he reflected on his career, Huet, visibly emotional at times, spoke about his beginnings as a miner and his love for the work. He said that no matter where he worked — whether in Canada, South Africa or Mexico — people knew about the Sunshine Mine Disaster. 

“When I talk about miners and their safety, it hits home personally,” Huet said. 

That personal connection extends beyond his current role in the Silver Valley. In the 1990s, Huet was involved in a mining accident that resulted in the death of his partner and left him trapped underground for several hours. 

The experience shaped his commitment to safety throughout his career. That commitment was reflected in the recent milestone at the Galena Mine: 365 consecutive days without a lost-time accident.  

“We don’t go underground for praise. We go underground for our families,” Huet said. “We’re not trying to be heroes in the mines. We want to go down, and we want to go home. We just want to go home.” 

Huet’s message centered on honor, and the importance of continuing the tradition of remembering everyone affected by the 1972 disaster — not only the miners, but also their families, friends, partners and the community members who came together as their neighbors’ lives were forever changed. 

“To the families that are here that we honor; the miners that we honor today; the survivors that we honor; the residents of this area, all of the first responders, I just want to say thank you,” Huet said. “This is a big honor for me.”

    A woman slowly reads the names on the 91 helmets that belonged to the fallen miners during the Sunshine Mine Disaster Memorial.