April 7, 2024 - Friday marked 14 years since the tragedy of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster that killed 29 miners and injured two others at the site in Raleigh County, West Virginia.

Via press release, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said, “Fourteen years ago, West Virginia suffered an unimaginable loss when 29 brave coal miners were killed in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. The anniversary of this tragedy reminds us that our miners are willing to risk their lives for us, and we owe it to them and their loved ones to prioritize their health and safety. My heart goes out to the friends and families of Carl, Christopher, Kenneth, Cory, Michael, Steve, Rick, Joe, Nicolas, Adam, Josh, Dewey, Gary, Grover, Ricky, Jason, Greg, Robert, Timmy, William, Dean, Roosevelt, Ronald, Eddie, Rex, Boone, Jody, Deward and Benny. Gayle and I join all West Virginians in honoring the memory of these 29 courageous miners who lost their lives that day and we will continue to keep them and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

The recovery effort from multiple agencies from multiple counties and states endured for days at the Raleigh County site on April 5, 2010. It was the worst mining-related disaster in the United States since 1970, when 38 miners were killed in Hyden, Kentucky.

Two years after the disaster at Upper Big Branch, The "Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial" was erected in the Boone County town of Whitesville to honor the fallen miners and their families who were forever affected by the loss.

Boone County Commission President Brett Kuhn spoke about what April 5 means to him and the communities forever linked to the disaster.

"Today marks the fourteenth anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster," he said. "For me, it is deeply personal because a young man I had as a student and coached in baseball at Sherman High School, Jason Atkins, died in the explosion. We remember Jason and the other men, including the survivors, for their sacrifice and continue to pray for their families as they suffer the impact of that tragedy each and every day."