[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13134-13135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           COMMEMORATING 142 YEARS OF WEST VIRGINIA STATEHOOD

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I commemorate 142 years of

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statehood for my State of West Virginia. In doing so, I believe that it 
is important to note my State's motto, ``Mountaineers Are Always 
Free.'' This phrase, as relevant today as it was 142 years ago, truly 
embodies a people who have done so much to contribute to our great 
Nation and a State so abundant in natural beauty.
  Historically, West Virginia's magnificent landscape has nurtured and 
inspired her inhabitants, endowing willing adventurers the freedom to 
explore, experience, and utilize her natural wonders. Native Americans 
came to West Virginia over 9,000 years ago and established the State's 
first permanent settlement in present-day St. Albans. Their ancient 
artifacts and impressive monuments, such as the Grave Creek Burial 
Mound, in Moundsville, serve as lasting tributes to the land's eternal 
contributions to mankind.
  Today, the people of West Virginia remain free to explore and enjoy 
the State's unspoiled, majestic terrain. Mountainous views extend for 
miles in every direction, and blend seamlessly with glades of 
rhododendron and deep river valleys.
  Hundreds of thousands of acres of forests, such as the Monongahela 
National Forest, blanket our State with lush plant life. West Virginia 
has over 50 State and national parks that protect our natural habitat 
and provide recreation to millions of visitors each year. Nearly 20 
different species of endangered or threatened animals, including the 
bald eagle, have found refuge within our ecosystem.
  Pocahontas County's pristine rivers and streams provide some of the 
best trout fishing in the State, and offer those who visit countless 
opportunities to escape into the serenity of the Appalachian Mountains. 
The county is known as the ``Birthplace of Rivers'' because 8 different 
rivers have headwaters there, with their only source of water being the 
fresh mountain rain.
  In addition to the freedoms provided by West Virginia's natural 
environment, the citizens of West Virginia have fostered a social 
climate of acceptance, where all are free to express their thoughts and 
beliefs and take advantage of the benefits of a good education.
  Booker T. Washington, following President Abraham Lincoln's 
emancipation proclamation, sought refuge in West Virginia and was 
raised in a small mining town called Malden. It was there that he was 
encouraged to follow his dream of education, and there that he 
developed the skills to become one of our country's foremost educators 
and leaders.
  Another location, the Sumner School in Parkersburg, became the 
Nation's first free school for African-American children below the 
Mason-Dixon. It was operated until school segregation ended in 1954 and 
currently houses the Sumnerite African-American History Museum.
  In addition to these advances to freedom and education made within 
our home State, West Virginians have consistently and overwhelmingly 
devoted their lives to protect the ideals on which this Nation was 
founded--liberty and equality.
  Five hundred thousand West Virginians, since the time of the Civil 
War, have fought to protect our country in battles and conflicts all 
over the world. There are currently 200,000 veterans in West Virginia, 
giving my State the highest per capita ratio of veterans in the Nation.
  Such an impeccable record of devotion to freedom is not surprising 
from a State with origins like West Virginia. It was born out of the 
Civil War in 1863 and became the ultimate manifestation of a State's 
loyalty to our young country.
  For 142 years West Virginians have been selfless in our love for this 
Nation, and our contributions to this country are best reflected in 
President Abraham Lincoln's own words. As our great President Lincoln 
said:

       We can scarcely dispense with the aid of West Virginia in 
     this struggle . . . Her brave and good men regard her 
     admission into the Union as a matter of life and death. They 
     have been true to the Union under very severe trials.

  The meaning of these words, and the contributions of my State in the 
development of this country's freedom, continue to hold immense 
importance with West Virginians today. I am proud to be a West 
Virginian. So, today, as we celebrate West Virginia's 142nd birthday, 
we remember our history, celebrate our present, and look with hope 
toward the future of our truly wonderful State.

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