BECKLEY — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden spoke of hard work and healing as they eulogized the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion at a memorial service on Sunday in Beckley.

"Our hearts have been aching with you," Obama said before reading the names of the miners.

"They began their day as they worked — in darkness," Obama said. "In coveralls and hard-toe boots, a hard hat on their heads, they sat quietly for their hour-long journey five miles into the mine."

Obama said the miners worked every day for a better life for their families.

"All that hard work, all that hardship, all that time underground, was all, in a sense, for you ... to put a car in the driveway and a roof over their heads, for a chance to give their kids the opportunities they had never known, to enjoy time with their spouses. These miners lived as they died — in the pursuit of the American Dream," the president said. "They went into the mines for their families and they became a family themselves, sharing birthdays, watching Mountaineers football and basketball together, spending days off together hunting and fishing."

Obama said the community came together to support each other and he saw the unity in the letters and emails he received from all across the country.

"They all began the same way: 'I am proud to be from a family of miners. I am the son of a coal miner. I am proud to be a coal miner's daughter,'" Obama said to loud applause. "They asked to keep our miners in my thoughts and prayers. 'Never again,' they say. 'Miners keep America's lights on.'"

Obama said all the sentiments had the same message: "Don't let this happen again."

Biden drew loud applause with his comments about the miners.

"They went into the mine not only to provide for themselves and their families, but for all of us," Biden said. "And though this work defined them, it did not describe them. These men were strong, they were proud, they were providers.

Biden said that collectively, the miners are the "heart and soul and the spine of this nation. The nation mourns them."

Biden said the pain of losing a loved one never ends.

"When the tributes are done and the flags are once again flying at full staff; once the mines go back to work, that's when it will be the hardest," Biden said.

"That's when you most need one another."

Biden said that life will go on, but it would be an even bigger tragedy if life goes on unchanged.

"Certainly, nobody should have to sacrifice their lives or their livelihoods," Biden said.

"This band of 29 roughneck angels watching over you ... and they're wondering, 'Is all that fuss about me,'" Biden said.

Gov. Joe Manchin said he was pleased that Obama and Biden took time out of their busy schedule to come to West Virginia and to help console the grieving families.

"My main concern was that we really wanted to do something special and the White House was unbelievable to work with," Manchin said. "I talked to the families and I told them I hoped we did them honor. They all seemed to be very appreciative. I'm hoping the healing has started. They are still very fragile. The void will always be there. But, I think the good memories should be coming forth and now we just have to find out what happened."

Rev. Michael Pollard, a Man native and local pastor, gave the opening prayer.

Pollard spent time with the families during the days following the tragedy when some were still waiting on news of their loved ones.

“I can assure they worshiped together, they prayed together, they sang together, they danced together, they thanked God together,” Pollard said. “They held out hope together.”

Pollard said the service wasn’t only being held to memorialize the miners, it was also “a healing service.”

Pollard prayed for the healing of the families.

“This is not a political convention, this is not a UMW convention and a helping convention,” Pollard said during the prayer.