Winds of Change Newsletter, February 2006     See sidebar for table of contents

On the Scene at Sago

by Denny Hodges

The Sago mine is about 30 miles from where we live, and Cecelia (Hart-Hodges) and I were there from a few hours after the explosion until days later, when the last of the families identified the bodies of their loved ones. Cece was there as the public affairs officer for the Red Cross and I was there as a mental health supervisor. The following is my opinion, and should not be taken to represent the opinion of the American Red Cross.

Cece did an outstanding job (forgive me for bragging on my wife) dealing with the press. You may have seen her on CNN. But beyond that she was loving and compassionate with these humble mountain people she grew up with and knows so well. I am very proud of her.

We spent most of the past three days with the tiny community near the mine in the Sago Baptist Church. The people’s courage was inspiring. When they sang “Amazing Grace” while crying and hugging each other, we joined in and couldn’t help crying as well.

I talked to a lot of the people since Monday and each of them reaffirmed why I love these people and the hills of West Virginia so much. It also angered me to see, once again, how the Appalachian people are exploited by powerful outside interests. I thought our governor was outstanding, spending the entire ordeal, not surrounded by security but holding the hands of the people and mingling amongst them. If only his compassion would translate into the political will to stand up to the coal barons who have no regard for the miners but only for the wealth they bring.

I’m sorry about that. What I wanted to communicate here was a reminder that life is short, tragedy comes quickly and unexpectedly. We are never prepared for the worst. Tell the people you are close to that you love them. Tell them several times a day.

And tonight when you turn on your electric lights, think about these miners and their families, for it is through their efforts and their sacrifices that modern society functions. Use electric power sparingly and treat it as the precious gift that it is. Someone’s life is on the other end of that switch.

I believe we are on this Earth to learn how to love and honor each other and to care for the beautiful garden in which we live. May the year 2006 bring each of us the ability to do just that.