“My son, who is serving in the Navy, was deeply touched,” said Sandra Arehart of Whitesville.
Arehart works as a receptionist for The Whitesville State Bank.
“He said all those serving were touched, especially those from West Virginia and this area,” she said.
Arehart’s son, Jerry, decided to do something to show that they were thinking of the miners and their families.
“He was able to get a flag that was flown onboard of Navy compound during an enemy mortar assault in Iraq delivered with a certificate to the Whitesville State Bank to be displayed in honor of the 29 miners who sacrificed their lives for their livelihood at the UBB mine on April 5,” Arehart said.
She said her husband (Jerry’s father) Gay was also a coal miner.
“Coal miners and those serving in the military have a lot in common,” she said. “They put their lives on the line every day in service of their country and their families.”
Jerry Arehart is a teacher at a community college in North Carolina. He is now serving his second tour of duty in Kuwait.
Sandra Arehart said the bank president, Lee Milam, was glad to put the display in the bank’s front lobby.
“He was impressed,” she said. “We have already received many positive comments from customers. This is a tight-knit and patriotic community, so this display meant so much to so many people.”
Sandra Arehart says she took a picture of one of the fallen miner’s wife with the display.
“She really liked it and said she was going to write my son a letter thanking him,” she said.
Sandra Arehart said she is proud of her son.
“He was raised around here and knew one of the miners that was killed, so this was a very important thing for him,” she said. “He was truly devastated by the loss of these men and the loss their families felt. This was his way of showing honor to those men and their families.”
Jerry Arehart has a wife and three children. In a recent article in his hometown paper in N.C., he said he stressed commitment to his family when he told them he would be going back for a second tour of duty.
“I talked to them about commitment, and how even though something is important to always honor your word,” he said. “I made a commitment to the Navy a long time ago. I don’t think the mission will be that dangerous and it is something I have to do. I will make the best of the situation and I told my kids they need to look out for their mother.”
Jerry Arehart said he is very proud of his family and extremely thankful for the support he has received from his church, The Summit Church in North Carolina.
“I’m very proud of my wife and kids for the way they’ve handled everything,” he told his local newspaper. “They accepted the fact that I’m leaving and I know they will also accept the responsibilities in front of them. I couldn’t be more thankful to Forsyth Tech (where he teaches) and The Summit Church for the support they have shown my family. Anything I’ve ever needed, they have always been there.”
“Hopefully, he will be coming home at the end of October,” his mother said.
The certificate inside the display at the bank reads, “With the gratitude of NAVELSG Fwd KILO, U.S. Navy, on behalf of all American sailoers, soldiers, airmen, and marines fighting for freedom and the global war on terrorism. God bless the coal miners and their families and God bless the United States of America.”
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