{Whitesville, West Virginia}...Construction began Wednesday on the Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial being built in Whitesville to commemorate the 29 miners who died in a massive explosion on April 5, 2010. The memorial will be made of granite with a massive concrete base, to ensure long-lasting stability. Equipment and labor will be provided by a crew from Alpha Natural Resources, which bought Massey Energy, the company that operated the mine at the time of the explosion. Construction is expected to be complete by April 5, 2012. Various businesses, community groups and individuals from across the country have donated more than $700,000 to construct the memorial.
