HR 236

Commending the Vienna Community Band, Inc.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
WHEREAS, the Vienna Community Band, Inc., an independent nonprofit organization officially established in 1975 at the urging of the Town of Vienna, was formed to support the community's participation in the United States Bicentennial and has since provided 50 years of continuous musical service to the town and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, during the 1976 Bicentennial, the presence of a civic or municipal band was among the criteria for designation as a “Bicentennial City,” and the Vienna Community Band has remained a vital cultural institution since that time; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of its 50th anniversary, the Vienna Community Band will present a series of full concert band and small ensemble performances from December 2025 through July 4, 2026, all of which are free and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, the Vienna Community Band is a designated VA250 Commemorative Partner and is collaborating with town officials and ViennaVA250 organizers to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution through music, education, and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, as part of these commemorative efforts, the Vienna Community Band commissioned a new musical work for concert band entitled Archer Overture, composed by Gary Nash, which will be premiered on March 22, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Archer Overture honors the legacy of Louise A. Archer, a groundbreaking educator who served as teacher and principal of the Vienna Colored School from 1922 until 1948, whose leadership emphasized academic excellence, character, citizenship, and the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality, and whose influence is memorialized through Louise Archer Elementary School and a recently dedicated historical marker; and
WHEREAS, the commissioned work subtly incorporates strains of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” reflecting Louise Archer's enduring emphasis on dignity, resilience, and community uplift; and
WHEREAS, the Vienna Community Band will also present patriotic and historically significant programming during the 2025–2026 season, including performances of Liberty for All by James Beckel, a narrated concert work featuring foundational American texts that highlight the continuing relevance of liberty, justice, and responsible citizenship; and
WHEREAS, the Vienna Community Band will support numerous ViennaVA250 and community events, including holiday celebrations, commemorative ceremonies, concerts on the Town Green, Memorial Day observances, immigration ceremonies, and Independence Day celebrations, further strengthening public understanding of the Commonwealth's revolutionary history and civic values; and
WHEREAS, through five decades of volunteer musicianship, educational outreach, and civic partnership, the Vienna Community Band has enriched the cultural life in Vienna and exemplified the enduring role of the arts in public service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Vienna Community Band, Inc., hereby be commended on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Vienna Community Band, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its outstanding contributions to the Town of Vienna and the Commonwealth and  its support for events honoring the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.