During Festival Week in 1966, a contest was held in order to find an emblem worthy of representing the Festival. The
following letter describing our emblem was entered by Charles Whipkey, of Big Springs, Calhoun County West
Virginia. His entry was judged most worthy and is now an image for all of us to be proud of.

 

Big Springs, W.Va. April 26, 1965
Mr. Stanley D'Orazio
Wood Festival Chairman
Grantsville WV

Dear Mr. D'Orazio,

For the Wood Festival colors I have chosen green and gold. Green is to represent the wealth and beauty of the tress
and gold to represent the pageantry. The following are the instructions for the actual coloring of my Wood Festival
Emblem entry: The quotation is from Deuteronomy, 20:19. The central symbol is a map of Calhoun County with a
crown overlay in gold. The map is green. The green on the map symbolizes the wealth of trees, and the gold crown to
symbolize the pageantry and the crowning of the annual Wood Festival Queen. The crown is inscribed with the year
the Wood Festival began, 1962. The shield used as a backing is red, white and blue in order from left to right. I chose
these colors to show the influence of patriotism and the love of our country in which such a festival can thrive. Please
consider the enclosed drawing my entry in the Wood Festival Emblem and Colors Contest.


Yours truly,

Charles Whipkey