CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's first lady says her husband's second inauguration later this month will reflect and celebrate the ways West Virginia has changed over the first four years of the Manchin administration.

Gayle Manchin said the theme grew out of Gov. Joe Manchin's first inauguration, when the Capitol dome was under wraps for renovations, and the state's economy was also, figuratively, undergoing repairs.

In the past four years, she said, the state's economy has improved and attitudes about the state have changed.

"Over the four years, we have sort of evolved into a new West Virginia," the first lady said.

While at least six of the 11 governors elected in November have cancelled or scaled back inaugural activities because of the economy, Manchin said West Virginia is in a position to proceed with its celebration.

"The consensus we received from people around the state was we had earned the right to celebrate, and when I say 'we,' I don't mean Joe and me, I mean the people of West Virginia," she said.

"Out of these 11 states, we are doing as well or better than any of them, and it's been a compilation of reasons: The governor has been fiscally responsible, energy obviously has been doing very well, and we have been building our economy," she said.

Scheduled events will be similar to those for Manchin's first inauguration in 2005, beginning with an Ecumenical Mass at noon Jan. 18, at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.

Events on inauguration day, Jan. 19, will begin with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Program of Tribute and Remembrance at 8:30 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church.

The inaugural parade - a tradition the Manchins returned in 2005 after a 32-year absence - will begin at 10 a.m. on Kanawha Boulevard at Capitol Street and proceed to Greenbrier Street.

In addition to dignitaries and floats, the parade will feature marching bands from West Virginia University, Marshall University and at least 25 high schools around the state, inaugural committee spokeswoman Sara Payne Scarbro said Monday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's first lady says her husband's second inauguration later this month will reflect and celebrate the ways West Virginia has changed over the first four years of the Manchin administration.

Gayle Manchin said the theme grew out of Gov. Joe Manchin's first inauguration, when the Capitol dome was under wraps for renovations, and the state's economy was also, figuratively, undergoing repairs.

In the past four years, she said, the state's economy has improved and attitudes about the state have changed.

"Over the four years, we have sort of evolved into a new West Virginia," the first lady said.

While at least six of the 11 governors elected in November have cancelled or scaled back inaugural activities because of the economy, Manchin said West Virginia is in a position to proceed with its celebration.

"The consensus we received from people around the state was we had earned the right to celebrate, and when I say 'we,' I don't mean Joe and me, I mean the people of West Virginia," she said.

"Out of these 11 states, we are doing as well or better than any of them, and it's been a compilation of reasons: The governor has been fiscally responsible, energy obviously has been doing very well, and we have been building our economy," she said.

Scheduled events will be similar to those for Manchin's first inauguration in 2005, beginning with an Ecumenical Mass at noon Jan. 18, at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.

Events on inauguration day, Jan. 19, will begin with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Program of Tribute and Remembrance at 8:30 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church.

The inaugural parade - a tradition the Manchins returned in 2005 after a 32-year absence - will begin at 10 a.m. on Kanawha Boulevard at Capitol Street and proceed to Greenbrier Street.

In addition to dignitaries and floats, the parade will feature marching bands from West Virginia University, Marshall University and at least 25 high schools around the state, inaugural committee spokeswoman Sara Payne Scarbro said Monday.

The inauguration ceremony will take place at 1 p.m., this time on the north steps of the Capitol, immediately followed by a reception in the Capitol rotunda, and entertainment and light refreshments at the Cultural Center's Great Hall.

The only event requiring an admission ticket, the Inaugural Ball, takes place that evening at the Charleston Civic Center from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission to the ball is $50 per person.

Musical performers will include "a couple of national headliners" as well as a variety of local bands, Scarbro said. 

Scarbro said the budget for the 2009 inaugural activities should be similar to the 2005 event, which cost about $850,000.

As of Monday afternoon, the inaugural committee had raised a total of $412,200 from corporate sponsors and private contributions.

Payne said the committee mailed out nearly 20,000 invitations statewide over the weekend.

Besides the schedule of events, the packet includes such features as a map of Charleston's downtown and East End, to help out-of-town guests locate inaugural events, she said.

Gayle Manchin said the inaugural theme is reflected in the logo, which evokes the points on a compass.

"It's been a journey to get where we are today, to a new West Virginia, and we're not finished. The journey will continue the next four years," she said.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com

 or 304-348-1220.