Flags to be flown at half staff in West Virginia in honor of miner
Flags will be flown at half staff in West Virginia in honor of Steve Lipscomb, a miner who died in an accident at a Nicholas County mine. (WCHS)
WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — Flags will be flown at half staff in West Virginia in honor of Steve Lipscomb, a miner who died in an accident at a Nicholas County mine.
Lipscomb’s body was found Thursday after days of searching at the Rolling Thunder Mine. A section of the mine flooded on Nov. 8 and Lipscomb became trapped while ensuring the rest of his crew was able to evacuate.
“All of West Virginia mourns the loss of this courageous man,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in the news release. “Steve was a veteran of the Marine Corps, a Purple Heart recipient, a husband, and a father of two. He spent his final moments ensuring his men could escape to safety.”
The order signed by Morrisey recognizes all West Virginia coal miners who have lost their lives on the job in 2025 – Mark Hatfield, Billy Stalker, Eric Batram, Joey Mitchell and Lipscomb.
Flags must be lowered to half staff at all state buildings in West Virginia from noon on Nov. 14, 2025, to sunset on the day of Lipscomb’s internment.
