06 February 2008

Two Slogans Are Better Than One?

That's the thinking in the House of Delegates, which unanimously endorsed a resolution that embraces both "Almost Heaven" and "Wild and Wonderful" as official state mottoes.

If the Senate agrees, the pair "will replace Gov. Joe Manchin's 'Open for Business' as the state's official greeting when motorists enter the state," The Charleston Gazette (corrected attribution) reports.

As The Associated Press version of the story also notes, delegates did some editing with their measure. The motto "Wild, Wonderful" had won during last year's survey of state residents.

Manchin cited that vote to MetroNews. "It was statewide,” Manchin told them. “Over 60,000 people have been involved in this process and I would tend to honor that."

"It's estimated that it will cost $50,000 to replace the state's 107 welcome signs," the articles said.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Almost Heaven" is a bone thrown to all the WVU alumni/toadies in the legislature.

Jeff Turner said...

I drive each summer from CA to WV with my family. The signs proclaiming "open for business" was always a joke to me. It sounded like begging.

"Almost Heaven" is right on target.

clear eyes said...

Try listening to the "Almost Heaven" song. It says West Virginia, but it's actually about Virginia. Why not just stick with something unique to our state like Wild, Wonderful?

Jeff Turner said...

So, WV should dump a slogan that is universally recognized by everyone as unique to WV because John Denver didn't know his geography? The song clearly says "Almost Heaven, West Virginia."

Yes, he uses a River that is not in West Virginia, but "miners lady, stranger to blue water" clearly is talking about West Virginia. Virginia is not a stranger to "blue water." Also, I can't remember the last time the "misty taste of moonshine" was used in conjunction with Virginia. :)