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2009 SESSION
084783326Whereas, the Commonwealth has no official song because "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," 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 the birthplace of the nation, 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 Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That "Cradle of Liberty," by Thomas L. DeBusk, be designated as the official song of the Commonwealth, the words of which are as follows:
Oh more than life, give me liberty, or give me death!
These words, they burn deep inside of me; they're part of who I am!
It's my heritage, my charge to keep, for I was born free!
In Virginia! My Virginia! The cradle of my liberty!
In Hampton Roads, Mt. Vernon's fields, Creation shows Your grandest touch!
Blue Ridge Mountain views, Shenandoah's vales, Your beauty overwhelms me!
It's my heritage, my charge to keep, for I am blessed to see:
In Virginia! My Virginia! Your beauty overwhelms me!
Yorktown's bloody shores, Appomattox' doors, they bought our dignity!
Like those who died to give us freedom's light, I'll guard the flame each day!
It's my heritage, my charge to keep, for I am bound to feed:
In Virginia! My Virginia! The flame of liberty!
We hold this truth self-evident: All men are equal!
This gift you gave, Mother of Presidents, it lights our way!
It's our heritage, our charge to keep, for we are proud to be:
In Virginia! Our Virginia! The cradle of our liberty!
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 (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus).
Beverage - Milk.
Blue Ridge Folklore State Center - Blue Ridge Institute located in the village of Ferrum.
Boat - "Chesapeake Bay Deadrise."
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 - "Cradle of Liberty," by Thomas L. DeBusk.
Song emeritus - "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," by James A. Bland, as set out in the House Joint Resolution 10, adopted by the General Assembly of Virginia at the Session of 1940.
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.