Bill Text: PA HR467 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the month of November 2009 as "Patriotic Music Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 42-12)

Status: (Passed) 2009-09-30 - Adopted [HR467 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR467-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2677
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 467 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY HARHART, MELIO, FAIRCHILD, SWANGER, BAKER, BEAR, BEYER, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, McCALL, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, PALLONE, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, REICHLEY, ROHRER, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, STEVENSON, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, DELOZIER AND DAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of November 2009 as "Patriotic Music
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, American patriotic music is a part of the culture
and history of the United States since its founding in the 18th
century and has served to encourage feelings of national unity;
and
WHEREAS, Patriotic songs include hymns, military themes,
national songs and music from stage and screen, as well as songs
adapted from poems; and
WHEREAS, Much of American patriotic music owes its origins to
four main wars, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the
American Civil War and the Spanish American War; and
WHEREAS, "The Liberty Song," written by John Dickinson in
1768 to the music of William Boyce's "Heart of Oak," is perhaps
the first patriotic song written in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Songs such as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" composed in
1831 and the "Star Spangled Banner" have as their theme freedom
and liberty; and
WHEREAS, Patriotic songs such as "America the Beautiful"
express appreciation for the natural beauty of the United States
and the hope for a better nation; and
WHEREAS, During the events leading up to the American Civil
War, both the North and the South generated a number of songs,
such as "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," to stir up patriotic
sentiments ; and
WHEREAS, After the Civil War, the sentiments of most
patriotic songs were geared to rebuilding and consolidating the
United States; and
WHEREAS, The beginning of the 20th century gave birth to
several of the most popular patriotic songs, including "Anchors
Aweigh," composed by Charles A. Zimmerman in 1906, and "You're a
Grand Old Flag," composed by George M. Cohan in 1906; and
WHEREAS, World War I, the "War to End All Wars," produced
patriotic American songs such as "Over There" by popular
songwriter George M. Cohan and a 1918 Irving Berlin composition,
"God Bless America," which is sometimes referred to as the
unofficial national anthem of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The World War II era produced a significant number
of patriotic songs in the Big Band and Swing format, and popular
patriotic songs of the time included "Remember Pearl Harbor" and
"God Bless America"; and
WHEREAS, Patriotic songs in the latter half of the 20th
century included "Ballad of the Green Berets" during the Vietnam
War and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" during the years of
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the first Gulf War; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
role of patriotic music in the evolution of our country and the
patriotic fervor that it instills in our citizenry, particularly
in regard to support for our military personnel and for our
veteran community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of November 2009 as "Patriotic Music Month" in
Pennsylvania and encourage the citizens of Pennsylvania to
organize and participate in patriotic music events in
communities across this Commonwealth.
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