Wyoming County co-champions Silas Mullins (left) and Christy Laxton pose with the welcome marker unveiled on Route 54 near the Raleigh County line last Thursday. The markers is a demonstration project for the Wyoming County Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative.

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In an area known for its hospitality, it is probably fitting that the Wyoming County demonstration project for the Community Service Initiative is a welcome marker.

The 7.5 ton rock, placed along Route 54 near the Raleigh County line, was unveiled last Thursday morning.

“We wanted to come up with something that would stand out, that would last after we’re all gone,” said County Commission President Silas Mullins, co-champion for the local Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative effort.

“A lot of people pulled together, and because of that, we got the job done,” he added.

The Wyoming County stone was engraved in Monroe County and donated by Plum Creek, a company based in Atlanta, Ga. An estimated 35 to 40 volunteers helped set the stone in place on Tuesday.

“This has been a long journey but well worth it,” Mullins commented.

Circuit Clerk David “Bugs” Stover and Circuit Judge Warren McGraw discussed the history of the area and the factors that led to the highway being built there.

“This is something we’ve been preparing for months,” stated Christy Laxton, executive director of the Wyoming County EDA and the other co-champion on the initiative.

Laxton was one of the volunteers who helped prep the site for the stone.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “It’s great to be part of something that is good for Wyoming County.”

Marie Walker, director of programs and development for the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia, has consistently praised Wyoming County team as one of the best in the Reaching the Summit effort.

“There is a lot of community pride,” she observed. “I was here yesterday (when the stone was brought in) and even though I’m not from Wyoming County, I felt pride for the people here.”

Dave Kopsa, assistant manager of programs for the Boy Scouts of America, said the BSA has been visiting proposed project sites to determine whether they are meet safety requirements and other guidelines.

“We want to be doing projects that matter to the counties,” he commented.

Each of the nine counties taking part in the Community Service Initiative is doing a demonstration project, he noted.

Raleigh and Nicholas did their projects earlier, and six more will take place in September, Walker indicated.

Volunteers are still needed for the July 2013 projects which Boy Scouts will be conducting while visiting West Virginia for the National Jamboree, Laxton reported.

The next meeting for the Community Service Initiative is on Sept. 21 at noon in the county commission chambers in Pineville. About 50 projects will be selected and prioritized in late September and early October.