[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3834-S3835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING WEST VIRGINIA'S 151ST BIRTHDAY

  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Connecticut. 
I appreciate his unwavering commitment to continue to fight for justice 
and fairness for all, and he does it every day.
  I am here to say happy birthday to West Virginia. Tomorrow, June 20, 
we will be 151 years old, and I rise to honor my great State.
  I have often said this: Some of us were lucky enough to be born and 
raised there--and I am one of the lucky ones--some people were smart 
enough to move there, and some people just wish they could get there. 
So under any circumstance, we will take you.
  This is a State that truly embodies a brave and daring declaration of 
statehood that is unprecedented in American history.
  Born out of the fiery battles of the Civil War, West Virginia was 
founded by patriots who were willing to risk their lives in a united 
pursuit of justice and freedom for all. Since that day 151 years ago, 
June 20, 1863--when our State officially became the 35th State admitted 
into the Union--West Virginia's rich culture and strong traditions 
grew.
  That year the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia was adopted--
and we all have our seals and preambles in all of our States--depicting 
who we are as a people and our culture. With our birth date's 
inscription forever engraved in its center, the seal features a big 
boulder rock with two crossed rifles and a liberty cap sitting on top 
to express our State's importance in fighting for liberty and justice.
  On either side of the boulder stand two men: On the left, a farmer 
stands with an ax and a plow to represent agriculture. On the right, a 
miner stands with a pickax and a sledgehammer to represent industry. 
Finally, along the outer ring is carved the text ``State of West 
Virginia'' and ``Montani Semper Liberi,'' which means ``Mountaineers 
Are Always Free.''
  That Great Seal of West Virginia, designed in 1863 during America's 
bloody Civil War, leaves a lasting imprint of who we are as the people 
of West Virginia.
  Just like the farmer and miner on our seal, we cannot forget the 
countless others who fought for our freedom and embarked on our State's 
improbable journey to independence from Virginia and to our very own 
place in the Union--a land of the free and home of the brave. We 
believe--and we believed way back then--that justice would prevail.

[[Page S3835]]

  Those pivotal figures climbed over mountains, crossed raging rivers, 
tussled through thick forests, and fought against bondage and 
oppression to be free. Their resilience succeeded, and because of their 
bravery and patriotism the ``mountaineers'' are still always free.
  Ever since our historic beginning, we, the people of West Virginia, 
have never failed to answer our country's call. We have almost more 
veterans per capita than any other State in the Nation. When 9/11 
happened to our great country, there were more West Virginians 
percentagewise who signed up to enter all branches of our Armed Forces 
to fight for our country. I am so proud of each and every one of our 
West Virginians and our veterans and the people serving today.
  Ever since we chose the stars and stripes and chose to live under a 
Constitution that promised a constant pursuit of ``a more perfect 
Union'' of States, no demand has been too great, no danger has been too 
daunting, and no trial has been too threatening.
  Our State's abundance of natural resources, coupled with the hard 
work and sacrifice of our people, have made America stronger and safer. 
Since our birth, we have mined the coal that fueled the Industrial 
Revolution, powered our railroads across the continental United States, 
and produced the steel that built our ships, skyscrapers, and our 
factories. Our little State has given every ounce of blood we have.
  To this day, West Virginians continue to generate the electricity 
that lights our cities, heats our homes, and powers our businesses. We 
have also filled the ranks of our military forces in numbers far 
greater than should be expected from our little State of less than 2 
million people.
  West Virginia's population holds one of the highest percentages of 
veterans among all States. As I always say, West Virginia is one of the 
most patriotic States in the country. We always have been and we always 
will be.
  ``The best steel comes from the hottest fires.'' My father always 
told me that, and the fires of the Civil War transformed us. We forever 
branded ourselves to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and 
the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution--and, as the ``mountaineers'' 
who will always be free.
  We are tough. We are independent. We are inventive. We are honest. 
Our character has been shaped by the wilderness of our State. With 
welcoming mountains, countless hollers, rushing streams, boundless blue 
skies, and dense green forests, we have it all. West Virginia is a 
place of coal mines and soaring eagles, Boy Scouts and community 
leaders, sparkling lakes and captivating mountains, winding backcountry 
and smoky barbecue joints, battlefields, and hidden trails, college 
towns and small towns, and it goes on and on. West Virginia is a place 
of power, pulse, and passion--a special place I get to call home, along 
with other West Virginians.
  Yes, we have had our ups and downs, our setbacks and triumphs, famous 
family feuds, neighborly fights, timely trials, and unexpected 
challenges have been thrown our way, but the spirit of West Virginia 
has never been broken, and it never will. I learned a long time ago, 
growing up in the small coal-mining town of Farmington, WV, with 
hardworking men and women, when things get tough, by God, we just got 
tougher. That is the way it had to be to survive.
  Tomorrow, as people across West Virginia celebrate West Virginia's 
151st birthday, a day we now also know as West Virginia Day, I 
encourage all West Virginians to remember who we are, from where we 
have come, and where we are going to go. I encourage us all to remember 
the first mountaineers and the brave leaders and strong laborers who 
paved the way for us and for future generations to come.
  We have so many reasons to be proud of our beautiful State, its kind 
and compassionate people, powerful landscapes, unique customs, rich 
culture, and fascinating history.
  John Kennedy, in 1963, when he came for our centennial celebration 
and spoke on the capitol steps, once said: Sometimes it is raining cats 
and dogs. Sometimes the Sun doesn't always shine in West Virginia, but 
the people always do.
  He was so correct, as he felt the heartbeat of our State.
  Every West Virginian contributes to our State's amazing story, and on 
West Virginia Day I encourage all West Virginians to seize this 
opportunity to imagine the future of this great State--and this 
Nation--and be proud of how far we have come and how far we will go 
together.
  We are West Virginians. Even in the darkness and the gloom, we look 
to a just God who directs the storm, and similar to the brave loyal 
patriots who made West Virginia the 35th star on Old Glory, West 
Virginians' love of God and country and family and State remains 
unshakable, and that is well worth celebrating every year.
  So God bless every West Virginian. God bless those who came before us 
and who will come after us. Happy birthday, West Virginia.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Kaine pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 479 
are located in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I note the absence 
of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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