Montani Semper Liberi ... Mountaineers Are Always Free.

These words adorn the state flag and state seal of the Great State of 
West Virginia. Why would anyone live here, you ask?

Well ...West Virginia has some things that a person doesn't realize 
they wanted until they were here.

West Virginia has mountains. The Appalachian Mountains extend from New 
York to Georgia, but in no state are they more majestic, or part of the 
renown, than in West Virginia. The highest point in West Virginia is Spruce 
Knob, one mile above sea level. Yes, there are higher points in America, but 
none more beautiful.

Because of our mountains, we have rivers. The oldest river in the 
Western Hemisphere, the New River (quite appropriately named, don't you think) 
ends in West Virginia. We have the Gauley river, which confluences with the New River
in a magnificent cascade to form the Kanawha River, which in turn flows through the 
center of the state, and directly through the capital city of Charleston, the 
largest city in West Virginia. These rivers in  addition to the Cheat, Blackwater, 
Tygart, Monongahela, and countless others offer tremendous recreational opportunities.

The tallest building in Charleston is barely 25 floors tall, which, if 
you think about it, is a plus; how could you possibly build a skyscraper 
more beautiful than a mountain? The capital city stretches throughout the 
long river valley, encompassing both hill and dale. The Charleston airport, 
the largest in the state, sits on top of a mountain. The crime rate in 
Charleston, including the entire population of the Kanawha Valley 
around 200,000), reflects that of the entire state ... the lowest in America. 
No more than a handful of murders are committed each year. Charleston has 
no subway systems, but, truth be known, you can get from one end of town 
to the other, even in rush hour traffic, in less than ten minutes.

There are three major interstate systems going through Charleston, the 
smallest city in America to make such a claim. The entire state has six 
different interstate systems, meaning, from Charleston, you can reach 
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Louisville or Charlotte in 
four hours or less. Ah, but, once you leave the interstates, the drive 
becomes a thing of wonder. Two lane roads, winding up and down the mountains, 
offer amazing views and historic places ... small towns, poor in wealth but 
rich in history.

West Virginia is the birthplace of Mother's Day, in Grafton; and 
Father's Day, in Fairmont. We have the oldest covered bridge still in use.

We have walnut festivals and strawberry festivals and apple festivals 
and pumpkin festivals and buckwheat festivals, and arts and crafts fairs 
and stern wheel regattas and ramp dinners. We have Bridge Day, on the New 
River Gorge bridge over 800 feet above the New River; the only standing 
structure in the United States that, one day a year, allows parachuting and 
bungee jumping.

We have college basketball, and minor league baseball and hockey, and, 
just like all of America, Friday night high school football. We have white 
water rafting, and skiing, and hiking, and caves, and waterfalls, and camping 
in every direction. We have Sundays where a leisurely drive in the car can 
take eight hours, and only cover 100 miles. We have bed and breakfasts, and 
resorts, and golf courses, and museums, and the Greenbrier Hotel.

West Virginia has more natural beauty and wonder than any person could 
ever imagine. We have all of this, and yet ... our greatest asset is our 
people. West Virginians are good people. We care about each other.

We talk to our neighbors over the backyard fence. We grow tomatoes for 
the entire neighborhood. We turn around in each other's driveways, and yell 
"howdy" when we do. We sit on the porch on warm summer evenings, 
listening to crickets, and watching kids catch fireflies. We loan a hammer, or a 
cup of sugar. We don't take two-hour lunches, but we do spend a few minutes 
each day with a cup of coffee, and our feet up on our desk, shooting the 
breeze. 

We rarely get in a hurry. We have relatives just down the street.

We don't just loan someone a socket wrench, we help them fix their car. 
We share recipes, and gardening tips, and our last cup of coffee. We baby 
sit each other's kids, we house sit for each other's dogs while we're on 
vacation, and we loan each other our cars if we have to get to the drug 
store. We ask each other if we need anything as we're going to the 
market. We celebrate each other's accomplishments, and we cry over each other's 
disappointments. We are a friendly folk. We are West Virginians. 
Mountaineers are always free. Free to take the time to enjoy life, and 
hold each moment in our hearts, forever.

If you are proud to be a West Virginian, then pass this on.

Author: Jim Spence, courtesy of the Internet, June 2002.