Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-06-15

about character, about the character
of West Virginia, and about the great
things that have been done.
Great as West Virginia is in
natural resources, grandeur of
scenery and Industrial supremacy,
we must always remember that
her future greatness and welfare
will after all be most largely de-
termined by the character of her
citizens. Character can not be-
bought: 1t can not be lost: it is
not feeting shadow. Though
West Virginia were by some nys-
FERROUS calamity deprived Of her
vast wealth and resources, the
high character OF her people
would still stand as an eternal
monument to be admired by fu-
ture generations Your present
effort, therefore, to secure the in
terest and cooperation Of our
youth Is evidently OF the highest
Importance, 1t is the best BIRTH
day present you can give to West
Virginia"
Patriotic Duty.
Congressman Nicely, Of the First
District, has also sent message. He
Is particularly impressed with the vaE
liable idea OF reminding ourselves, by
a birthday celebration, relative to
things that we might otherwise forget
Your ambitious undertaking to
celebrate the Eifty-third birthday
of West Virginia in the manner
outlined in your letter of May
18th, merits the hearty support Of
every patriotic citizen of the
State. Your plan Is admirable. Y
Its execution should result In Civ \
ing to the world great deal OF Y
valuable information regarding the
wonderful natural resources of a
commonwealth that is destined to-
be one of the foremost States OF
all the world | wish you, your
organization and your enterprise
boundless success" IN
The Flags Body Guard.
There Is very pretty idea being
worked out in Parkersburg. The
parade will be headed by the flag OF
West Virginia and the flag Of the
United States, carried side by side.
The escort Of these flags will be fifty
three girls, or young ladies', all dressed
alike, and they will swing into the
reviewing stand as the body guard of
the flags, while the rest of the parade
goes by. The fifty-three girls will
typify the fifty-three years of the
States life, and tffis beautiful idea
could be worked out everywhere; SO
Henry H. Archer has sent suggestions
along this line to every community Of
the State, asking; first that a pro-
visional Committee Of three be APP
pointed to organize a local celebra-
ton; that this provisional Committee
then meet with the men and women
connected with organized bodies,
churches, orders, schools, Boy Scouts,
farmers organizations, and SO on;
then that this general Committee ar
range whatever seems best to COM
memorate the day. But the particular
thing that Mr.. Archer wants borne in
mind Is the desire of the West Virginia
Board Of Trade to receive word at once
as TO all who serve on Committees, and
particularly the names and addresses
Of the girls who dress to typify the
fftythree years Of the State.
Local Celebrations.
Local celebrations are already being
planned on a large scale in Wheeling,
Huntington and Charleston. But even
if every large town in West Virginia
were to have birthday celebration on
June goth, this would not be enough.
Every county seat should do something
TO mark the day on the memory Of all
its people. In addition, the people of
a district who could not take the trip
TO the county seat, should act together
and have community picnic; and
where just the folks Of neighbour
hood want TO do It, they ought to make
up little party among themselves.
Send Greetings.
Let every family In West Virginia
resolve that on June goth one or more
letters will go outside the State to.
relatives and friends, telling them that
June 10th is the Fifty-third birthday
Of West Virginia, that West Virginia
has wonderful opportunities in it, that
the latch-string Of the State is out to,
all who will core here to help use its
resources and thus build it to greater
things.