Rahall Applauds Release of State Quarter
By HNN Staff
Washington, DC (HNN) –U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) declared Friday, Oct. 14, 2005 a "special day for the state of West Virginia," as Gov. Joe Manchin and representatives of the U.S. Mint prepare to release the West Virginia commemorative quarter, the 35th in the 50 State Quarters program.
"How appropriate it is that we celebrate the release of this quarter featuring the image of the New River Gorge Bridge at the beginning of the annual Bridge Day festivities," Rahall said. "To think that a portrait of the beautiful hills and valleys of West Virginia, along with one of our most famous landmarks, will soon be lining the pockets of Americans everywhere is exciting for all of us."
A quarter exchange at Bridge Day is tentatively scheduled to go from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. United Bank is sponsoring the exchange and currently confirming with their carrier on the time that the coins will be delivered to the site.
"It's a perfect opportunity to get your commemorative quarter and to see, in person, the inspiration for the design," Rahall said. "How lucky we are to have something so special in our own back yard."
The design, by artist Jamie Lester of Morgantown, was selected from more than 1,800 entries and features the image of the 876-foot high span framing a vista of the Fayette County Gorge.
"I have been working for years to spread the word of the natural wonders that lie in and around the New River Gorge Bridge, but as they say, 'money talks,'" Rahall said. "It's a great opportunity to share with our country one of the many treasures of our state."
Lester will be the featured artist during Bridge Day on the New River Gorge Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 and will be available to sign a limited edition poster for those interested. On this one day a year, the New River Gorge Bridge is open to pedestrians, where a variety of activities draw up to a quarter of a million people. Great views, organized walks, parachuting and rappelling demonstrations, music, and a variety of vendors are all part of the Bridge Day events.
Lester will also be displaying some of his sculptures, fine art prints, quarter design sketches, a limited edition bronze medallion and a chocolate quarter medallion made especially for the release of the quarter.
In 2004, West Virginia residents voted for the bridge design, which shows a view of the bridge that spans the New River and features the inscription NEW RIVER GORGE. More than 79,000 residents voted for the designs and the bridge design received 79 percent of the vote.
The 3,030-foot-long New River Gorge Bridge is the world's second longest single arch steel span bridge and at 876 feet above the New River, the second highest bridge in the United States. The Bridge Day Festival will feature 450 BASE parachutists (those who jump off buildings, antennae, spans and earth cliffs) and more than 200,000 spectators.