NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 26, 2007
Contact:  Roman Prezioso, 304-366-5308 or
Marianne Moran, 304-368-1123

Commemoration ceremony to honor centennial anniversary of the worst mining disaster in the United States

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Dec. 6, 1907, the worst mining disaster in the history of the United States occurred at the Number Eight and Number Six mines in Monongah, West Virginia. In this small coal town, hundreds of men and boys, residents of West Virginia as well as immigrants as far away as Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary and Austria, lost their lives during the tragedy.

Today, Gov. Joe Manchin issued a proclamation declaring Dec. 6, 2007, as the centennial anniversary of the Monongah mine disaster and that on the anniversary at 10:30 a.m. there will be a one-minute statewide moment of silence during which he encouraged all West Virginians to reflect upon all those who passed away in the mining tragedy. Sen. Roman W. Prezioso, D-Marion and centennial remembrance committee chair, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, D-Monongalia, accepted the proclamation.

The public is invited to remember the miners, their families and the legacy of the town with a commemoration ceremony at the Monongah town square on Dec. 6, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. The ceremony includes the reading of the known names of the lost miners by Monongah Middle School students, consecration of a 6-foot tall bell that is a gift to Monongah from the region of Molise, Italy, in memory of the Italian immigrants who were killed in the mine disaster, and a moment of silence at 10:30 a.m. in remembrance of the miners. A Mass is scheduled for noon at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church as well as a memorial walk to Mount Calvary Cemetery following Mass, and a reception at Fairmont State University’s Colebank Hall at 3 p.m.

“While we focus on the centennial anniversary of the Monongah mine disaster on Dec. 6, we also will be recognizing the hard work and dedication of all miners,” Gov. Manchin says. “The coal industry is an essential source of energy to West Virginia as well as to the nation.”

An 11-member committee appointed by Gov. Manchin planned three events to remember the mining tragedy. The events include the Monongah Centennial Commemoration Festival that took place in August, an October dedication of the Monongah Heroine statue, paid for in part with money donated by Italy's Calabria region, and the commemoration ceremony on Dec. 6.  Sen. Prezioso of Fairmont heads the remembrance committee.  Other members include Roger Huffman, Pat Mascara, Debbie Vandetta, Joe Eates and Ann Eates of Monongah; Janet Salvati and Marianne Moran of Fairmont; and Joseph D’Andrea of Moon Township, Pa.  Randall Reid-Smith, Division of Culture and History commissioner, and Betty Carver, Division of Tourism commissioner, serve on the committee as well.

            “The people of Monongah will always know that their town’s history includes a chapter that is at once tragic and noteworthy,” Sen. Prezioso said.  “We want to commemorate that chapter with attention to the town, to the miners and to the families that survived this sad day.”

    Sen. Prezioso and Marianne Moran are serving as the contacts for the event.  Prezioso can be reached at 304-366-5308 and Moran at 304-368-1123.

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