At 4:30 a.m. on January 4, I was awakened by a phone call from Peg Cooning, vice president for external relations.  The news was stunning and my heart sunk--12 miners had perished at Sago. Wesleyan had volunteered the recently purchased Central School property as the site for a temporary morgue. The bodies were expected to arrive by 7 a.m. and we needed to develop a strategy to serve the media, but protect the families.  Wesley Chapel would serve as a “place of solace” for the families as they went through the painstaking process of identifying their loved ones. 

At Wesley Chapel I saw first-hand the emotional toll of the Sago disaster.  Law enforcement officials and clergy had obviously experienced a terrible ordeal and you could easily see the pain on their faces.  Yet, their empathy and care for the families was remarkable. 

By 12 noon, members of the media began to arrive.  With assistance from Duwane Squires ’79, vice president for information technology, we patiently tried to answer questions. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to become a spokesperson for a disaster that had national interest. Members of the media were so sad about the tragedy. It was difficult to answer questions on camera when those who interviewed you had tears streaming down their faces.

Wesleyan’s campus was still quiet on January 9.  Only a handful of students had returned and most would not be back until the middle of the week.  Angela Gay Kinkead ’79, Dean of Wesley Chapel, Rev. Mark Flynn, pastor at First United Methodist Church, and alumnus Ed McDaniels '79, pastor at Christian Fellowship Church began working together to develop the program for the Memorial Service. 

Peg, Duwane, and I began working on the coordination of press arrangements with Tom Hunter, press secretary for Governor Joe Manchin III.  We would need assistance from many campus offices-information technology, audio-visual, external relations, security, Sodexho, Aladdin, and marketing and communication.

It was agreed that NBC-TV would coordinate the “pool” production of the memorial service.  Chip Bell, the coordinating producer set up an appointment with me to begin working on the television production of the service.  With the backdrop of truly a most devastating story, funny moments sometimes would occur.  Chip, a New York native, living in Los Angeles, got lost in Buckhannon trying to locate Wesleyan.  He was only two blocks away, so I got in my car and led him to the campus.  I was immediately struck that his goal was the same as everyone who was planning the service, that family members would be protected.

While the planning for the service progressed, Wesleyan students returned for the spring semester of study.  Parking on a college campus is always a “hot button” issue.  Students and members of the campus community quickly found out that all normal parking patterns for the week would be dramatically changed.  Students eagerly cooperated and many searched for ways to help with the event.  A full-scale volunteer effort was underway and you could immediately sense Wesleyan’s students desire to wrap their arms around the families.  Our campus community was suddenly expanding.

A typical day in our office focuses on writing stories, updating the website, and working on branding and marketing issues.  This was not a typical week.  My cell phone and office phone rang constantly. Phone conversations with producers from NBC-TV’s Today Show and CNN’s Larry King Live on two different phones gave me a new perspective on multi-tasking. 

Television producers, reporters, and media professionals in general are interesting people.  The desire to “have the inside track” on a story created intriguing scenarios.  For instance, once Angela Gay Kinkead was interviewed by one television network, she suddenly became one of “America’s Most Wanted.” After I was interviewed on Associated Press radio, I immediately received requests to be interviewed with other radio stations.  Newspaper columnists, musicians with CD’s for the Governor and family members, helicopter pilots, television and radio reporters and producers kept all phone lines busy.  The office was a blur of non-stop activity and I often found myself trying to remember the actual day of the week.  However, as the weekend arrived, we had a comprehensive plan for members of the media and we never forgot about protecting the privacy of the families.

There were so many individuals who had dropped everything in their lives to work on the service.  I was inspired by Ed McDaniels, who went to every funeral home to listen to family requests and by Angela Gay Kinkead who patiently and graciously worked with clergy and media.  Many nameless Wesleyan personnel worked hard competing seemingly small but necessary tasks to resolve logistic challenges.

Sunday, January 15 began before sunrise in the cold in front of Wesley Chapel.  I went to watch Angela Gay’s live interview with MSNBC.  The moon over the Chapel steeple was absolutely stunning as the sun rose behind the Camden Residence Hall complex.  It was interesting to watch the television production crew members take personal photos of this scene on their digital cameras.  After Angela Gay’s interview, members of the marketing & communication staff (Rochelle Long '00, Duane Carpenter, Mary Elliott '04, Karen Petitto, and David Esaias '05) began their tasks for the day. Karen, who teaches and who serves as assistant vice-president for information technology, and Mary agreed to be the coordinator of the media filing center, while Duane worked with photographers and Rochelle with newspaper columnists.  David and I stayed with television producers. Many media members soon discovered a Wesleyan asset--our dining center.  As we grabbed a quick bite to eat, we found many of them enjoying Aladdin’s Sunday Brunch.  They really liked the food and the atmosphere and loved the affordable price!

As expected, the Chapel was filled to capacity and the overflow area in the Rockefeller Physical Education Center soon had over 400 persons.  Members of the media, here to write or produce their stories, came also to reverently honor the miners.  As I developed many new friends, I learned that the people in the Buckhannon area had really touched them.  Many media representatives had volunteered to come back because the tragedy had moved them so deeply.

I really did not see much of the Memorial Service, although I heard that it clearly was wonderful.   I did get to read Homer Hickam’s inspirational message which was so eloquent.  Mr. Hickam has long been a supporter of Wesleyan’s Gifted Program and his message clearly stirred the hearts of many Americans.  The families expressed great appreciation to have the presence of Joe Manchin III, Governor of West Virginia, Senators Robert C. Byrd and John D. Rockefeller IV, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Congressman Alan Mollahan.  Their presence was not political, but an honest outpouring of sympathy to fellow West Virginians in a time of heartfelt tragedy.

As the service concluded and the balloons were released into the stunning blue sky, I saw members of the media smile.  I also watched them shed tears at the American Red Cross Memorial tent where family memoirs were hung. Again, they were clearly caught up in the emotional impact of this story.  As the media wrapped up their stories, it was clear that they felt the spirit of our “Home Among the Hills.”  Many hugged us when they departed and everyone was struck by our warm and engaging community.

The final event of the day was the live production of the Larry King Live show in Wesley Chapel.  I watched with interest how the show was produced and the interviews with Ed McDaniels, Sago miners, and family members.  After the interviews Ed, who really knew these families, told me we had achieved what we set out to do--offer honor, hope, and healing.  He said that could not have been more proud of his alma mater.

Before leaving for home, I reflected on the day and the week.  Everyone had worked tirelessly to make everyone feel special at Wesleyan.  So many people had worked cooperatively to coordinate a memorable memorial service. 

Wesleyan’s West Meditation Chapel has always been a place of solace in all the years I have been here, both as a student and as an employee.  It was late Sunday night and I went to this favorite place.  I sat quietly thinking about the past week.  My mind drifted to the families of the miners, of Randall McCloy, clinging to life and to the miners who perished in the dark and cold.  As I sat in the quiet, still room, my eyes filled with tears--tears for the families, but also tears of pride for the community in which I live and for the College I love.

Students Find Ways to Show
Hope, Honor, and Healing to Community and Nation

As the events unfolded about the Sago mining tragedy, West Virginia Wesleyan students watched with great interest from their homes.  When they returned to the campus for the spring semester and learned that the Memorial Service would be held on the campus, they immediately asked the question, “What can we do to help?”

During registration and the first week of classes prior to the memorial service, Wesleyan students united to help make the service a successful one for the families of the fallen miners.  Organizations such as fraternities and sororities, Sigma Theta Epsilon, Bonner Scholars, and the Bobcat football team, along with many individual students opened their hearts to provide love and support for the families. 

Junior Julie Hafenbrack ‘07 of Pittsburgh and others placed white ribbons around surrounding trees on campus. While, members of the football team folded over 2,000 programs for the memorial service.  Jill Walker ’06 of Edinboro, PA, offered a child care service for miners’ families. Seniors Jason Bentley ’06 of Winfield, WV, and Brad Wingler ’06 of Buckhannon, displayed bed sheets from the campus dorm reading “God Bless Sago Miners.” The day of the service, Bonner students helped direct traffic and media, while the entire campus community moved vehicles to accommodate family members and the media.

“When I heard what happened in Buckhannon at the Sago mine, I knew that I wanted to do something,” shared Hafenbrack. “I now feel that I am a part of this community, and know several people who have lived here for a while. I felt that I needed to do something to let the families know that we were thinking of them. For the service, I got the four sororities on campus involved.”

The sororities worked together to tie white ribbons around the trees in the areas that the families would be driving and walking past.  The white ribbons signified hope and the campus’ support for the families during this hard time. “I feel that it is small gestures such as these that can touch the lives of the families involved,” Hafenbrack explained. “I am left with a feeling of satisfaction, but with the urge to try to help in other ways. I was able to attend the service, and thought that it was an excellent start to the healing process.”

Other efforts performed by students included Alice Giles ’06 of Laurel, MD, who led a group of students in creating inspirational signs placed along the walkway to be viewed by all attending the service. The inspirational verses featuring the words hope, honor, and healing were taken from Shakespeare and The Bible. One such verse read, “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”

Local Buckhannon student Joey Baxa ‘08 designed a black t-shirt with the assistance of the local business Sunset Graphics and donated part of the proceeds to the miners’ families. The t-shirt displays the words “Sago 2006” “Gone but not forgotten” and features an outline of the Mountain State with a hardhat and pick ax.  To date, Baxa’s effort have collected over $700 selling over 400 t-shirts. Baxa shares, “I got the idea because I wanted to help. My dad works for ICG at the Sago Plant but not underground. I also have a cousin that works underground who had not returned to work due to the holidays.” 

Immediately following the service, the American Red Cross donated white balloons to people in attendance. The balloons were then released in a moment of spontaneity as Wesleyan student, Michael Carothers ’09 of Bridgeport, WV, shouted “1, 2, 3!” Over 2,000 balloons filled the clear blue sky in honor of the fallen miners. A comment overheard by a bystander solidified the feeling that day about a group of 15 balloons, “just like West Virginians, they stick together.”

These are a few of the gestures that Wesleyan students initiated to show their support for the families and the community.

Wesleyan Scholarship for Sago Families

West Virginia Wesleyan has offered full tuition scholarships to the dependent children of the miners who were in the Sago mine at the time of the accident. President William R. Haden sent letters to the families informing of the scholarships the week following the accident. The children who qualify for the scholarships include those of the 12 miners who perished, survivor Randall McCloy, and 15 other miners who escaped the explosion.

In the letter to families, President Haden said, "All of us - faculty, staff, students and alumni - grieve with you for your terrible loss. In no way can we comprehend the challenges you face in moving forward from this point. However, the College would like to offer you help in thinking about providing for the future educational needs of your children."

Individuals that would like to make a contribution toward the other college expenses (such as fees, books, room, board, study abroad and internships) of the children that choose to come to Wesleyan may make their gift to the West Virginia Wesleyan Sago Miners Educational Fund. You may make your gift online at http://www.wvwc.edu/alu2/supportwvwc.asp or you may mail your gift to: Office of External Relations, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 59 College Ave., Buckhannon, WV 26201.