CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a column today for Charleston Gazette-Mail’s Daily Mail WV special feature, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) reflects on some of the many things that make West Virginia a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.  

“Positive memories and observations about West Virginia always bring a smile to my face. It’s these little stories—and their inspirations—that make me so proud to live in and serve such a spectacular place. And, they reaffirm for me what we as West Virginians already know: West Virginia is truly the best state in the country,” Senator Capito writes.

A portion of the column is available here and the full column is below.

Almost Heaven
By: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
Daily Mail WV
February 1, 2019

I am so proud to be a West Virginian, and I feel fortunate to have grown up in such a wonderful place that has allowed me so many opportunities.

I’ve made great friends here, met my husband Charlie here, raised a family that continues to grow here, and now, have the privilege of serving as our state’s first female United States senator.

And I know I’m not alone.

From being born in Glen Dale in the Northern Panhandle to living and working in Charleston for more than 40 years, everywhere I travel, I always find it easy to strike up a conversation about our fellow West Virginians.

Whether it’s a discussion with a colleague on the Senate floor, a meeting with an out-of-state group, or at the airport, I am always hearing from others about how much they love our state and the people who call it home.

Sometimes, it’s a comment about its breathtaking natural beauty seen at Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County or the fun had during a weekend trip to the New River Gorge. Other times, it’s a middle school student who learned new facts during a field trip to Harpers Ferry National Park, a high school student who just submitted an application to Marshall following a campus visit to Huntington, or a family who recently took a holiday trip to Wheeling to view the Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay.

Or maybe it’s a game in Mountaineer Stadium, a visit to Girls State in Elkins, or a bike ride on a trail in Greenbrier County. I could go on and on, but one thing that’s certain is we are all connected by these wonderful experiences that exist here at home.

Positive memories and observations about West Virginia always bring a smile to my face. It’s these little stories—and their inspirations—that make me so proud to live in and serve such a spectacular place. And, they reaffirm for me what we as West Virginians already know: West Virginia is truly the best state in the country.

The comments that stick out the most—and the ones I hear the most—have to do with how kind and hospitable West Virginians are. I like to call that the “West Virginia spirit,” and I believe it truly sets our state apart from the rest.

We see that spirit every day in West Virginia, and there is no question that it has helped us through some difficult times. Our state is like one big small town where our people come together to help one another in need, and we’re not afraid to let our West Virginia spirit shine through.

Let’s continue to keep up this West Virginia way by helping a friend in need, being kind to a stranger, or volunteering in your community. By doing so, we can continue to set an example for others to follow—whether they are from West Virginia or not—and we can continue to leave a positive, lasting impression to those we meet here at home, across the country, and around the world.

This really is “almost heaven,” and that’s because of West Virginians like you. 

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