West Virginia Day
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West Virginia Day is a holiday celebrated every June 20th in the American state of West Virginia. The day celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the state as a result of the secession of several northwestern counties of Virginia during the height of the United States Civil War[1].
[edit] History
During the Civil War, the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond chose to join the Confederate States of America, much to the chagrin of some of the leaders in the trans-Allegheny region of the state. These leaders gradually pushed for the creation of a new state. After two years of legal maneuvering, West Virginia was formally admitted to the United States of America on June 20, 1863.
June 20th had been informally celebrated across West Virginia over the next six decades until the West Virginia Legislature gave the holiday formal recognition in 1927[2]. The day has traditionally been celebrated with festivities at the state capitol complex in Charleston and at other locations across the state.
[edit] References
- ^ Remarks by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, Happy Birthday, West Virginia!, June 20, 2003
- ^ WV Government website
