Bill Text: VA HB762 | 2010 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: State song; designates "O Virginia" by Pauline and Pauron Wheeler to be adopted.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-16 - House: Left in Rules [HB762 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2010-HB762-Prefiled.html
10103768D Whereas, the Commonwealth has no official song because "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," declared the official song of the Commonwealth in 1940, was declared the official song emeritus of the Commonwealth in 1997; and Whereas, the official song should reference the rich tradition of the Commonwealth and invoke images of the natural and scenic beauty its citizens celebrate; and Whereas, the Commonwealth requires an official song that can be sung on all occasions with pride and affection; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That "O Virginia," by Pauline and Pauron Wheeler, be designated as the interim official song of the Commonwealth, the words of which are as follows: O Virginia, O Virginia A rich and beautiful land We sing the name. It's a story about her fame The year was sixteen-o-seven Jamestown survived, "Thank Heaven!" But not before they came ashore Cape Henry was the door.
On up the river they came On that old lazy James Now they remained 'Til Richmond they claimed. To the First Nation People We owe our gratitude. So now we stand from many lands Joining hand in hand
Chorus: Where did it start - these United States? VIRGINIA! Who is called the "Mother of States?" VIRGINIA Who will set the standard for the states? VIRGINIA We'll lift our voice for this is our state. VIRGINIA! O VIRGINIA!
She's rich in the birth Of the U. S. Presidents It was Yorktown won for her independence. To those who fought for our freedom We salute and honor you So now we can fulfill God's plan Spread love to other lands.
Chorus.
She's learned some hard lessons Even made some confessions That all mankind should be equal and free. And so with that formula Made Doug Wilder Governor Now we all are one. There's work to be done More victories to be won.
Chorus.
The Virginia Cardinal sings In the Shenandoah Valley And the violets carpeted the alleys. Wild flowers brighten the forest, Dogwoods among green leaves Roses, and honeysuckles Shed their fragrance in the breeze.
Chorus.
O Virginia's rivers feature The Rappahannock The York, the James, and the Potomac Where the Mockingbirds trill And Seagulls wheel What a welcome flight for a tourist night To encounter such a sight.
Chorus.
Final Chorus: From Arlington to Roger's Mountain VIRGINIA! From the Skyline Drive to the coastal tide VIRGINIA! From the Shenandoah to the Eastern Shore VIRGINIA! From the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge way VIRGINIA! O VIRGINIA! Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That §1-510 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: §1-510. Official emblems and designations. The following are hereby designated official emblems and designations of the Commonwealth: Artisan Center - "Virginia Artisans Center," located in the City of Waynesboro. Bat - Virginia Big-eared bat (Corynorhinos townsendii virginianus). Beverage - Milk. Blue Ridge Folklore State Center - Blue Ridge Institute located in the village of Ferrum. Boat - "Chesapeake Bay Deadrise." Cabin Capital of Virginia - Page County. Coal Miners' Memorial - The Richlands Coal Miners' Memorial located in Tazewell County. Covered Bridge Capital of the Commonwealth - Patrick County. Covered Bridge Festival - Virginia Covered Bridge Festival held in Patrick County. Dog - American Foxhound. Emergency medical services museum - "To The Rescue," located in the City of Roanoke. Fish - Brook Trout. Fleet - Replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, which comprised the Commonwealth's founding fleet that brought the first permanent English settlers to Jamestown in 1607, and which are exhibited at the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg. Flower - American Dogwood (Cornus florida). Folk dance - Square dancing, the American folk dance that traces its ancestry to the English Country Dance and the French Ballroom Dance, and is called, cued, or prompted to the dancers, and includes squares, rounds, clogging, contra, line, the Virginia Reel, and heritage dances. Fossil - Chesapecten jeffersonius. Gold mining interpretive center - Monroe Park, located in the County of Fauquier. Insect - Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus Linne). Motor sports museum - "Wood Brothers Racing Museum and Virginia Motor Sports Hall of Fame," located in Patrick County. Outdoor drama - "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama," adapted for the stage by Clara Lou Kelly and performed in the Town of Big Stone Gap. Outdoor drama, historical - "The Long Way Home" based on the life of Mary Draper Ingles, adapted for the stage by Earl Hobson Smith, and performed in the City of Radford. Shell - Oyster shell (Crassostrea virginica). Song emeritus - "Carry Me Back to Old Song interim - "O Virginia!" by Pauline and Pauron Wheeler. Sports hall of fame - "Virginia Sports Hall of Fame," located in the City of Portsmouth. War memorial museum - "Virginia War Museum," (formerly known as the War Memorial Museum of Virginia), located in the City of Newport News. |