Perhaps befitting a state with so many mountains and valley, twists and turns, it’s been a bumpy ride over the past 160 years as West Virginia found its way.

Born in the middle of the Civil War and never quite finding any peace since, the Mountain State has kept the lights on for much of this part of the country, even as mine wars (and terrible tragedies) tore apart communities. It has contributed richly to the arts and culture of our nation, even as culture wars here threaten the notion that ALL Mountaineers are always free.

Despite poverty, addiction, illness and an identity crisis or two, West Virginia has endured. And now, as those with a forward-looking love of this state work to expand and diversify our economy, to educate our children and to make sure we are doing right for the most vulnerable among us, there is the hope that once again it will thrive.

Here, there is always hope in a new day as the sun rises over the mountains and we remember who we are.

Here, we rejected the ideals of the Confederacy and declared we would not be dragged down any longer. We know our natural resources are abundant, but that our most precious resource is our people. Those people will not be limited by the past, but will use it as a springboard to greater things — not just for West Virginia, but for our country, and even the world.

We are willing and capable, and today we celebrate the birth of a state that is ready not just to be a place in which our young people want to stay and raise their own families, but to welcome all who understand what this wild, wonderful state has to offer.

In celebrating its 100th birthday, President John F. Kennedy said “The sun does not always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do.”

We must not dim. We must shine as brightly as ever if we are to reach our potential.

And we will. As has been the case since the state’s birth, once we set our minds to something, we cannot be stopped.

Happy birthday, West Virginia!