It's a rare and beautiful occasion when members of the global community come together to achieve a common goal.  This week we have witnessed such greatness, one that has brought about the safe rescue of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped under the earth for more than 69 days.

Our first view of the miners came more than two weeks after they were trapped, and, at that time, believed by many to have perished.  But what we saw were smiling and hopeful faces, eager to share how they had been living and to reassure us of their safety.  They had turned what has been called their "underground prison" into living quarters, rationing their food and water since the mine collapse and continuing to thrive under the leadership roles assigned to them before the disaster.

As they embarked on rescue efforts, emergency teams provided the miners with food and water to keep them comfortable.  Day after day we were able to check in with the miners, who remained positive through it all, even when officials stated that their earliest rescue may not be until Christmas.

Thankfully, however, the rescue effort mobilized more quickly, and led to the successful release of the first minor in the late hours of Tuesday night – more than 2 months earlier than initially expected.  The incredible strength and spirit of the 33 miners has been unbelievable, as are the marvels of engineering that brought them to safety.  But it’s also amazing to see how many different individuals and organizations from all over the world united in the effort.

America’s National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) has been overseeing the physical condition of the miners, drawing on their experiences in space to help transition the miners from living 2,041 feet under the earth to rejoining the elements at the surface.  The Phoenix I vessel that brought each miner safely to the top was constructed by Chilean engineers.  The wheel that pulled that vessel up was of German design.  An expert from Colorado dropped what he was doing months ago to lead the drilling effort.  Two companies from Pennsylvania provided the drill rig and bit that was able to tunnel into the depths of the mine.  A bioharness made in Annapolis, Md., monitored the miners’ vital signs as they came up to the surface, and a Canadian company drilled a back-up shaft for use should the principal one become inoperable.

This story is a perfect example to show that, when it comes to doing the right thing, there are no boundaries.