By Doug Cunningham

United Mineworkers of America members shed their blood in 1898 defending their union rights in a Virden, Illinois gun battle with armed strikebreaking company guards. John Alexander of the Virden Sesquicentennial Group says the miner’s battle is being honored now with a bronze memorial.

[John Alexander 1]: "Today coal miners have it much better. And one of the reasons they do is that their great-great Grandfathers stood up and fought at places like Virden, Illinois."

The memorial commemorating the UMWA's Battle of Virden will be dedicated this Saturday.