We West Virginians are a freedom-loving people. Our state motto — “Montani Semper Liberi” — “Mountaineers Are Always Free” — is more than a slogan. It reflects the values that have defined our state since its founding in 1863.

Today, we celebrate our state’s 163rd birthday with pride in our past and optimism for our future.

We also take special pride in our newspaper’s unique role in creating West Virginia. Archibald Campbell, editor of what was then the “Daily Intelligencer,” was a leading voice for statehood. Our newspaper was the only one in what was then Virginia to endorse Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and Campbell was a courageous opponent of slavery.

Campbell understood what generations of West Virginians have demonstrated: We value hard work, honesty, personal responsibility and also self-reliance.

Life in the Mountain State has never been easy. Too often, West Virginians have been underestimated or misunderstood. Yet our commitment to liberty, community and perseverance has carried us through difficult times before, and it will guide us through the challenges ahead.

Today, we celebrate not only our state’s history, but the people who make West Virginia special.

Happy birthday, fellow West Virginians!