On the recordJune 19, 2013
I join with my colleagues from the State of West Virginia in celebrating our State's 150th birthday tomorrow. We invite the rest of the Nation to join in our revelry and reflection. Ours is a proud history of doing our part, and then some, in service to this great Nation of ours. West Virginia was born of war, and West Virginians understand full well the price of service and sacrifice to defend our shores. In times of war, the Mountain State's sons and daughters have answered their country's call faithfully, honorably, and nobly. And in times of peace, we have continued to serve our Nation from our mountains and our hollows. Geologists tell us our ancient mountains' sharp peaks, in ages long past, were rounded and smoothed through the forces of nature over the eons of time. The result satisfies the soul. Thanks to the U.S. Postal Service, the world can get a glimpse of our majestic mountains on a new stamp commemorating our 150 years. Based on a photograph taken in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, that stamp stands as a testament that our bragging about being ``Almost Heaven'' is every inch legitimate. Those same mountains, Mr. Speaker, have honed and hewn a people for whom the phrase ``Mountaineers are always free'' is more than a State motto; it is a way of life.…
