Many West Virginians remember Sago well, but one Upshur County resident took it upon himself to memorialize the fallen miners in his own way.

Artist Ross Straight created his piece, entitled “The Long Wait,” shortly after the Sago disaster. He lived three miles down the river from the mine in an underground home and said he felt his entire house shake when the explosion occurred. Straight said he tried to depict the miners underground waiting to be rescued and wanted the public to be able to put themselves in the mine with the men.

“I want people to imagine they are one of the miners waiting to die or be saved,” Straight said.

The memorial stands 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide and 18 inches deep. The images were produced in bronze and will be placed on African black granite.

The memorial depicts 10 men as seen through the eyes of an 11th, although Ross said each figure does not depict any particular miner. Survivor Randal McCloy was rescued alive and Terry Helms, the crew’s fire boss, was killed in the initial explosion. The figures of the men are placed according to a general description of how they were discovered.

According to Straight, one man stands to pray while others reassure their fellow crewmembers and search for inner strength. Straight hoped to evoke the feelings of fear and camaraderie, as he believes many emotions streamed through the Sago Mine during the rescue effort.

Governor Joe Manchin III unveiled the memorial and relived his memories of Sago.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said. “I watched West Virginia come together like no other people.”

Manchin spoke directly to the families of the miners as well.

“They [miners] did not die in vain,” he said. “I knew we would take that moment and make a change. You will never go through this by yourself. We will always be there.”

Delegate Bill Hamilton (R-Upshur) and Delegate Mary Poling (D-Barbour) also attended the memorial dedication. Hamilton said while he believes legislature has done a lot to improve mining safety, he still does not think enough has been put in place for the men underground.

“We’ve improved safety for miners countrywide, and that started in West Virginia,” Hamilton said. “But we still have a long way to go.”

Hamilton said the country is in a deficit and it is taking its toll on everyone in every spectrum, but there’s no excuse for not putting workforce safety first.

“I don’t care what the deficit is,” he said. “You don’t mess with safety. I don’t think you compromise with that.”

Ann Bennett, the daughter of Sago miner Jim Bennett, said she thinks the memorial dedicated to her father and the other miners is absolutely wonderful, but hopes the public will look deeper into the tragedy now.

“I hope that when people see it they will think and remember about the tragedy at Sago and about looking into better safety in the mines,” Bennett said.

While the Sago disaster was Straight’s inspiration, he said he wants the monument to honor all courageous miners.

“They go to work everyday with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads,” Straight said. “People need to experience what they go through.”

The entire memorial project is not complete. The Barbour County Commission secured grant money to pay for the bronze, but more funds are needed for the granite in order to set the memorial. Approximately $7,500 has been raised through individual donations and various grants, but an additional $13,500 is still needed.

If you would like to help with the cost of the Sago Miners Memorial, please send your donation to the Sago Miners Memorial Fund, First Central Bank, PO Box 340 Philippi, WV 26416. For more information, contact Tammy Stemple at 304-457-3700, extension 226.