CHARLESTON, WV – Governor Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice unveiled a special edition Father’s Day Blenko Glass piece during a special ceremony on Wednesday at the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston.
Over the years, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History has worked in collaboration with Blenko Glass Company in Milton to develop several special edition pieces in honor of West Virginia’s first family.
All of the pieces made before have always honored the state’s first lady. But the new piece that was unveiled Wednesday is the first ever to be created in honor of a governor. It is a cobalt blue tankard with a paw paw-hued handle. The governor’s signature is sandblasted on the bottom with his initials and state outline etched on one side.
“All of us, throughout the world, are touched by these people. It’s just amazing what they do,” Gov. Justice said. “They bring us to the world.”
The tankard’s creators from Blenko Glass Company, as well as leaders from the Department of Arts, Culture and History were on hand for the ceremony.
“We need to be so proud of our arts, so proud, in every way that’s who we are in West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said. “We need to expand that in every way, we do, because that is us, that is who we are.”
A total of 100 of the special edition Blenko pieces were made. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.