Melondy Phillips
Staff Writer
An official is often seen as an authority or person holding office in a governing body, but it also means an object, or other things, chosen to represent a group.
Every state in the United States has an official state flag, seal, motto, bird (sometimes several), and tree, but there are many other types of “officials,” as well.
On September 26, 1863, the West Virginia legislature selected “Montani Semper Liberi” as the new state’s motto. This was officially signed into the state constitution in 1872. The phrase, meaning “Mountaineers Are Always Free,” had been used by Swiss mountaineers to express their independence of spirit. This motto also supported the state’s nickname, “The Mountain State.” Added to the reverse side of the state seal was the phrase “Libertas E Fidelitate,” meaning ‘‘freedom and loyalty.’’ Other West Virginia mottos include Almost Heaven, Panhandle State and The Switzerland of America.
About half of the states in the United States have official colors.
“On March 8, 1963, the West Virginia Legislature adopted blue and “old gold” as the state’s official colors.
Many West Virginians think that blue and “old gold” have always been the state colors, but it didn’t officially occur until West Virginia’s Centennial celebration in 1963. Prior to that, the state often used blue and gold in ceremonies because those were the official colors of West Virginia University. So, when the legislature adopted blue and “old gold,” it came as a surprise to many West Virginians that we didn’t already have official colors.
The next question then is, “How and when did WVU pick blue and old gold for its colors?” They were chosen by WVU upperclassmen in 1890 because the colors were featured so prominently in West Virginia’s state seal, which was adopted in 1863, just months after our state entered the Union.
And why were WVU and the legislature so adamant about specifying “old gold” as opposed to just regular gold? Well, blue and gold are the official colors of the University of Pittsburgh –which, of course, has traditionally been WVU’s arch football rival.”wvpublic.org
In addition to colors, about half of the states in the U.S. have an official state tartan. A tartan is “a woolen cloth woven in one of several patterns of plaid, especially of a design associated with a particular Scottish clan.” Tartans are common among royalty, military branches and civilians alike. West Virginia adopted a state tartan as one of its symbols in 2008. The plaid weave consists of a mixture of blues and green on a red background. Although the pattern is different, the colors represented in the West Virginia tartan are similar to several other ones around the world. Among them are the personal tartan of the British monarch, The Royal Stewart tartan (a royal house of Scotland), and many Scottish families (both clans and non-clans).
Along with the commonly known state symbols, there are several unique and even obscure ones, such as two states who have a state microbe and another two states which have a state toy. Here is a walk-through of West Virginia’s timeline of officially adopted state symbols.
West Virginia’s military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, was adopted in 1863. A crest is an element within a coat of arms while a seal refers to the entire coat of arms including the crest, shield, motto and other elements.
In 1903, the Rhododendron (Big Laurel) beat out the wild rose and honeysuckle to bloom as the state’s official flower.
In 1927, June 20 became the official state holiday known as West Virginia Day. This day celebrates the state’s admission into the union, during the Civil War, after the secession of several northwestern counties of Virginia. This was the formation of the new state of West Virginia in 1863.
The sugar maple trees have long been used as a source for making rich flavorful syrup. The sweet sap flows in the late winter to early spring when the temperatures fluctuate between cold nights and warm days. In 1949, three states agreed to make this sugary source its state tree: West Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Many years passed before another icon would come to light. Black bears, typically found in wooded areas that are abundant across the hills of West Virginia, strolled in as the official mammal in 1973.
The Brook Trout wasn’t floundering in 1973 either, as it made the list as the state’s official fish. This fish can only thrive in the cleanest of waters in the cold mountain streams which are found in abundance in West Virginia. The Brook Trout is revered for its fighting spirit.
Lithostrotionella, Chalcedony, a type of coral found in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, made the “officials list” as the state’s gemstone in 1990. Although Lithostrotionella is not a gemstone, but rather categorized as a fossil, it is often cut and polished for jewelry.
In 1972, the House Concurrent added the Golden Delicious Apple as the state fruit, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the Senate Concurrent approved this tasty treat. The Golden Delicious was discovered in 1905, in Clay County by Anderson Mullins.
The Monarch Butterfly and the honey bee flew to the list of West Virginia’s official symbols in 1995 and 2002, respectively. Butterflies are not only lovely to watch but also play an important role as pollinators in our food chain, are an indication of a healthy ecosystem, promote biodiversity, and are a natural pest controller. The honey bee plays a key role in the production of many food sources worldwide. These busy bees are essential pollinators for the production of almonds, Brazil nuts, squash, watermelon, kiwifruit, passion fruit, macadamia nuts and rowanberry; among many others.
Monongahela Silt Loam is a fine loamy soil, moderately well drained, and considered prime land for cultivation of crops and pastures. This fertile soil became the official state soil for West Virginia in 1997.
In 2008, The Megalonyx jeffersonii, an extinct genus of ground sloths native to North America, was adopted as the state’s fossil. “Megalonyx is notable for having been originally described by future U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in 1799 based on remains found in West Virginia, the species M. jeffersonii was described later, and named in honor of him.” wikipedia.org
Another historical icon moved to the state’s “officials list” in 2008. The timber rattlesnake was adopted as the state’s reptile. The “rattler” is one of West Virginia’s two venomous snakes with the other one being the copperhead. The image of a timber rattlesnake had been depicted as a prominent element in a regional 1775 flag. Unless threatened or deliberately provoked, a timber rattlesnake’s personality is usually “I’ll leave you alone if you leave me alone.” Sounds familiar.
The hills of West Virginia are known for their coal mines so it should be no surprise that the state’s rock would become bituminous coal, which it did in 2009. This rank of coal, the most abundant type, yields around 10,500 btu/pound of heat. In comparison, wood fires generate around 8,600 btus while the average household gas range puts out between 5,000 – 20,000 btus.
In 2013, the Hall Model 1819 flintlock rifle became West Virginia’s official state firearm. Hall acquired a patent for a breech loading rifle design in 1811; however, production was hindered until 1817, due to the War of 1812. Hall moved to the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia at the government’s request. His rifle was formally adopted by the U.S. government in 1819. He received a government salary plus $1 per rifle that was produced.
The red salamander became West Virginia’s amphibian representative as of 2015. These lungless little creatures absorb oxygen through their skins and the lining of their mouths. This allows them to live and function in both water and in moist soil areas. Virginia followed suit three years later by adding these little creatures to its list.
West Virginia has four official songs: (1947) “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home” by Julian G. Hearne, Jr.; (1961) “The West Virginia Hills” by Ellen King and H. E. Engle; (1963) “This is My West Virginia” by Iris Bell; and (2014) “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver, Taffy Nivert, and Bill Canoff.
In 2021, The House passed a bill declaring the delicious pepperoni roll, uniquely West Virginian, as the official state food. Originating in West Virginia, out of necessity for simplicity, the pepperoni roll dates back to the 1920s. Lunches for the coal miners were simple, often consisting of only a loaf of bread and stick of pepperoni or salami. After Giuseppe Argiro, a former coal miner, opened his bakery shop, he thought “why not combine them (the bread and meat),” and start making an easily transportable and shelf-stable pepperoni roll. It was a hit! Pepperoni rolls are now enjoyed by many across the great state, so why not make it official?
As of this writing, it appears that the bill, which The House passed, has “died in committee” in the Senate, and is “Pending: House Rules Committee.” legis can.com/WV/bill/HCR19/2023
What do you think?
Should this tasty treat be added to the list representing West Virginia?
