Honoring the Fallen: West Virginia AFL-CIO Remembers Workers Who Lost Their Lives on the Job, 100 Years After Benwood Mine Disaster

BENWOOD, W.Va. (WTRF) — A special ceremony was held on Sunday to honor and remember the West Virginia men and women who lost their lives on the job last year and the 119 workers who tragically lost their lives in the Benwood Mine Disaster.

A bell was tolled 20 times at St. Johns Fellowship Hall in Benwood for the 20 workers who showed up for work and never returned home in 2023.

The West Virginia AFL-CIO and the Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler Central labor council held the 36th annual Workers Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday.

The bell was also tolled for the 119 coal miners who tragically lost their lives one hundred years ago in the Benwood Mine explosion.

The labor council president, Arthur Oakland, says the turnout for the ceremony was truly humbling.

It makes your heart happy when you look around. These people passed away a hundred years ago and they’re remembered. It was greater than our expectations to have this hall practically filled with union members, nonunion members, and people that live here in the town.”

Arthur Oakland – President, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler Central Labor Council of the AF-LCIO

The secretary and treasurer for the West Virginia AFL-CIO, Andy Walters, says that the annual event is a way to live out the values of all labor unions.

You got to memorialize. I mean, it’s all a part of the labor movement, the labor movements, a lot of the laws were written in blood, that’s why we’re still fighting today. That’s why we’re here.”

Andy Walters – Secretary and Treasurer, West Virginia AFL-CIO

It’s up to us to strive to make job places safer and conditions better for all people that go to work. The AFL-CIO not only works for union people, we strive to make life better for everybody that packs a lunch bucket and goes to work.”

Arthur Oakland – President, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO

Oakland says while the ceremony is meant to honor and remember the fallen, it is also meant to continue the fight for thousands of workers across the state.

He says remembering these workers each year is a step towards reducing the number of workers who die on the job every year.

You have to remember what happened in the past to make the future better.”

Arthur Oakland – President, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.