WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and SportsConstruction of UBB Memorial begins in Whitesville

Construction of UBB Memorial begins in Whitesville

WHITESVILLE (WVVA) - Ground has officially broken on the memorial paying tribute to the 29 miners killed in 2010's Upper Big Branch disaster.

Organizers say support for the project has been overwhelming. A one-year fundraising goal of $500,000 was met within 10 weeks.

Due to the sensitivity of the situation, organizers did not have a formal ground-breaking ceremony.

One side of the 48-foot long granite wall will feature a history of West Virginia mining and a timeline of events in that occurred at the Upper Big Branch Mine on April 5, 2010. The other side depicts silhouettes of 29 miners.

The project is on track to be completed in time for the two-year anniversary of the explosion on April 5.