Crandall Canyon miners remembered at memorial dedication

Intermountain Catholic

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Wendy Black, whose face became a symbol of the suffering of the miners' families, stands before the miners' memorial. The image of her late husband, Dale ?Bird? Black, looks over Wendy's right shoulder.

HUNTINGTON — When the Crandall Canyon Mine collapsed Aug. 6, 2007, it took six men, and 10 days later, amid frantic rescue efforts, a second cave-in took three more miners’ lives.

Some of the nine men lost had worked underground for decades; one, Brandon Phillips, 24, had been a miner for only 11 days.

Their names have been etched in our memories: Manny Sanchez, Carlos Payan, Kerry "Flash" Allred, Luis Hernaandez, Phillips, Don Erickson, Dale "Bird" Black, Brandon Kimber, and Gary Jensen.

The mood was solemn Sept. 14 as a large crowd gathered in the newly designated Miners’ Memorial Park for the dedication of the Crandall Canyon Miners’ Memorial, "Heroes Among Us."

The monumental bronze sculpture by Karen Jobe Templeton shows the heads and shoulders of each of the nine miners in bas relief. "The faces are at eye-level," said the artist, "so you can look them right in the eyes.

Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon spoke of wounds that have not yet healed, and Governor Jon Huntsman spoke of the heroism of all miners.

The ceremony began with the posting of the colors by seven boy scouts who had made the creation of Miners’ Memorial Park their Eagle Scout project.

Bishop John C. Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, was the only speaker who gave his message of hope in both English and Spanish.

"I want to assure the families and our fellow Utahns of the diocese’s continued prayers, support, and gratitude," the bishop said.

"What does it mean to be a hero?" he asked. "It means these men were steady, consistent, thorough heroes. They were heroes of a moment braver for a few seconds longer than the rest of us, although the three who died rescuing the other six were incredibly brave going into danger as they did.

"They gave their all for their families," the bishop said. "They knew the danger of their job. Day after day they gave of themselves, sacrificing themselves so their families can have a better life. They are an inspiration to all of us. All miners, every day, go into the earth to make our lives better.

"We can relate to them," he said. "They were one of us, not superheroes who have no connection to us, but heroes we can imitate and follow."

Bishop Wester said the nine miners were, "uncommon in their love. St. John of the Cross said in the end, we will be judged by how we loved. These miners loved profoundly, which is proven by the three rescue miners who lost their lives, and we know the six men lost first would have done the same."

The memorial is a sign, a symbol of what exists in our hearts, said Bishop Wester. "These men will live in our memories always. They are a part of who we are and of our history forever. They live on, in fact, in the fullness of God’s kingdom.

"We will be one with them again. In the meantime, live as they lived: caring for others, living common lives with uncommon virtue and loving above all else.

"May they rest in peace."

Karen Templeton, the artist, spoke of the honor it was to get to know the families of the miners through this project. "The families played a huge part in this providing photos, and even modeling for it."

She talked of struggling with one miner’s nose until she met his mother, who modeled so Templeton could get the nose "just right."

She set the monument into the ground at eye-level for most, "so you can look these men right in the eyes and see the depth of who they were."

Templeton said the men are looking at each other to signify how closely related are the men and women who work underground. And the monument is curved to show the way the world came together during the disaster and how the mountains that surround Huntington curve around the park.

It was Governor Huntsman who, last year in the midst of the disaster, used the term, "Heroes among us," to describe the miners.

Kristen Kimber, wife of rescue miner Brandon Kimber said the families would, "give anything to have (the miners) back for one more day, but then we realize that one day is not enough."