On April 5th, the 15th anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster was recognized, where 29 coal miners lost their lives due to coal dust and methane ignition. After multiple investigations, it was revealed that the mine operators had been neglecting safety rules for years. The CEO of the mining company, Don Blankenship, was later convicted for negligence and spent a year in federal prison. The emotional wounds caused by this disaster are still being felt in mining communities across the country. To commemorate the anniversary, a memorial service was held outside the Raleigh County Courthouse in West Virginia where the names of the miners were read aloud and a bell rang for each one. Family members of the miners, including Pam Napper, who lost her son, brother, and nephew in the explosion, attended the service. It was a somber moment as they remembered their loved ones. Despite the tragedy, the memorial at the mine site was an important reminder of the lives lost and the impact of the disaster.
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