The West Virginia miners killed in an April 5 explosion "lived as they died, in pursuit of the American Dream," President Obama plans to say at a memorial service in West Virginia.

Here are excerpts from Obama's remarks, as released by the White House:

All the hard work. All the hardship. All the time spent underground. It was all for their families. For a car in the driveway. For a roof overhead. For a chance to give their kids opportunities they never knew; and enjoy retirement with their wives. It was all in the hopes of something better. These miners lived -- as they died -- in pursuit of the American Dream.

In the days following the disaster, emails and letters poured into the White House. Postmarked from different places, they often begin 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." They ask me to keep our miners in my thoughts. Never forget, they say, miners keep America's lights on. Then, they make a simple plea: don't let this happen again. We cannot bring back the 29 men we lost. They are with the Lord now. Our task, here on Earth, is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy. To do what must be done, individually and collectively, to assure safe conditions underground. To treat our miners the way they treat each other -- like family. For we are all family. We are Americans.

(Posted by David Jackson)