(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Members of the Creighton family stand in front of the new flood memorial in Triadelphia on Saturday after its dedication. Travis Creighton, 19, died during the June 14, 2025, flood. His name is inscribed on the memorial along with the names of eight other flood victims. From left are his brother Ryan Creighton, father Brian Creighton, mother Donna Creighton and aunt Debbie Slater. Also in attendance but not pictured was his sister Shelby Creighton.

TRIADELPHIA – Hundreds of community members gathered Saturday to dedicate a new memorial in honor of the nine people who died during the June 14, 2025, flash flood in Triadelphia, Valley Grove and Elm Grove.

A service was first held inside the Triadelphia United Methodist Church, led by the Rev. Michael Palmer, pastor of the church. The Most Rev. Mark Brennan also, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, said a prayer during the service.

Inscribed on the memorial are the names of those who died during the flood: Lisa McMasters, 59, of Triadelphia; Michael Bokanovich, 73, of Triadelphia; Travis Creighton, 19, of Triadelphia; Kyleigh Minch Shotton, 26, of Triadelphia and her 3-year-old daughter Parker Shotton; Michael Veronis, 74, of Moundsville and his wife Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville; and Sandra Kay Parsons, 83, of Triadelphia.

Palmer said he hoped the new memorial would help provide peace and comfort to the families who lost loved ones, but also serve as a reminder of how the communities came together to help each other during the disaster and its aftermath

“God is still with us. … We are not alone in this journey,” he said.

Palmer noted the loved ones lost during the flood would want their families to carry on their love and legacies.

Brennan prayed to God for everyone involved.

“Your mercies are not spent. Continue to bless these communities with unity and peace,” he said.

Palmer then invited the flood victims’ families and friends to take quilts from the front of the church. He said the quilts were handmade by people in the Ohio Valley, downstate West Virginia and others from as far away as South Carolina and Georgia.

The crowd was then asked to file outside for the dedication during which Palmer said a prayer. Guitarist Jule Carenbauer also played and sang “Amazing Grace.”

Palmer said the memorial’s metal tree was created by artist Jeff Forster of Wheeling.

Following the dedication, Brian Creighton, father of the late Travis Creighton, said the memorial was beautiful and an honor.

“He was such a sweet boy and full of life and so giving,” Brian Creighton said of his son. “One of the best kids you could ever have.”

Donna Creighton said her son was “a loveable, good-hearted boy.”

“He just loved life,” she said.