Families of the 29 men killed in the April 2010 explosion were also in attendance for the dedication in Raleigh County, near the now-closed operation, at a park-like site. The site features a 48-foot-long granite monument with life-size silhouettes of 29 coal miners, a list of the men’s names and an area describing the coal-rich heritage of the state.

The bottom of the monument reads, “Come to me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest”

The ceremony featured a list of speakers including West Virginia governor Earl Ray Tomblin, who said he thought of the killed miners as well as those left behind.

“I wish I could tell you I could ease your heartache, but unfortunately, I cannot,” he said.

“This memorial will ensure the world will always remember the 29 good men, the 29 miners who gave their lives doing the work that all of us depend on.”

Also offering comments before the crowd was former state governor and West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, who said the site captured the spirit of the 29 who died.

“This striking memorial symbolizes strength: strength of those brave men, the strength of their families and the unwavering strength of this community,” he said.

“This memorial stands as a reminder: a reminder of what we lost, the love we shared for our fallen brothers, as a reminder that life is often too short and as a reminder that we must always put safety first. This memorial stands for all of us – to help heal, to reflect and to never forget.”

Manchin also reflected on the time he spent with the families, listening to memories and grieving together.

“An American author once said, ‘I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well’

“These 29 brave, patriotic men lived life to the fullest. These men were proud fathers, honest neighbors, strong brothers and sweet sons.”

The UBB memorial is open for public viewing.

It was completed a year ahead of schedule thanks to the strong wave of donations received by the UBB Miners Memorial Group, which raised about $US700,000 to develop the site.

The group said earlier this year that the money left over was earmarked for park upkeep, the site’s website presence and a planned scholarship fund.

About $250,000 was contributed by Alpha Natural Resources, which bought former UBB mine owner Massey Energy last June.

The 29 workers lost in the UBB explosion were Carl Acord, Jason Atkins, Christopher Bell, Greg Brock, Kenneth Chapman, Robert Clark, Cory Davis, Timmy Davis, Michael Elswick, William Griffith, Steven Harrah, Edward Jones, Rick Lane, William Lynch, Joe Marcum, Ronald Maynor, Nick McCroskey, James Mooney, Adam Morgan, Rex Mullins, Josh Napper, Boone Payne, Dillard Persinger, Joel Price, Gary Quarles, Deward Scott, Grover Skeens, Ricky Workman, and Benny Willingham.