Tomblin requested in a proclamation Friday that statewide observances begin at 3.01pm local time, the estimated time of the initial explosion.

"One year ago, 29 hard working miners perished," he said.

"In their memory, I request that every church in our state ring its bell 29 times at 3.01pm … [and] at that moment, I ask all West Virginians to observe a moment of silence for all miners who have perished and for those who continue to work in harm's way."

The governor has planned to lay a wreath at the Miner's Statue on the state capitol grounds on Tuesday, and that evening will be involved in a memorial service with the UBB victims' families.

At the federal level, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration will commemorate the day with a recording of two radio messages on the fatal explosion by assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joseph Main.

Both 60-second audio messages, intended for radio play on the anniversary of the event, focus on the impact the deaths have had on the local community, the industry and mine safety overall.

MSHA has made the recordings available to the public on its web site.

The men killed last April 5 will be remembered across the state in local ceremonies as well, including a Tuesday afternoon gathering in nearby Beckley.

According to the Register-Herald Reporter, the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce has coordinated a 3pm ceremony at the Raleigh County Courthouse where it will unveil and dedicate a historical marker, a 3-foot by 3ft metal photo plaque.

It has requested the ringing of church bells as well as one minute and 29 seconds of silence, during which time businesses and individuals are asked to turn off all lights and observe a “blackout”

“It’s going to be a tough day for a lot of people,” the paper quoted project chairman Mick Bates.

“What we’re going to do … is to make sure that day is special in some way and not just another day.”

According to the Boone Examiner, the neighboring town of Whitesville will hold one private and one public event Tuesday evening to remember those workers lost in the blast.

The first, which is by invitation only, will be held at a local elementary school and will recognize first responders and mine rescue teams that took part in the search and recovery at UBB. Invited speakers include Tomblin, senators John Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, US representative Nick Rahall, US secretary of labor Hilda Solis and MSHA coal administrator Kevin Stricklin.

The second event, a candlelight vigil, is open to the public and will begin at 8pm at the town’s gazebo – a site which served as a makeshift memorial for those lost, the paper said.