As work begins on a new welcome sign, citizens gathered Thursday morning to honor those who made the first Route 480 welcome sign near the Bavarian Inn possible.

At a cost of approximately $24,000 and after two years of effort by local volunteers, businesses and organizations, the Route 480 sign near Rumsey bridge was celebrated with a special plaque to hang in the reception area in Shepherdstown Town Hall.

The plaque recognizes The Shepherdstown Rotary Club, Hoxton Financial, the station of Shepherdstown and the Young Shepherd Alumni classes of 09, 10, 11, and 12, among others.

“As a Shepherd University graduate and member of the alumni board, I want to especially note the substantial contribution that was made by the young alumni of the classes 9 through 12, who sponsored four letters,” Mayor Auxer said in his remarks.

“HERD as they say, represents the Rams who brought the herd to Shepherdstown,” he went on to say.

“We may be small but have a strong sense of place and a lot of pride in ourselves and our town.”