HR0660

LRB095 12935 KXB 38515 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish to congratulate Jim Culbertson, director 
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and conductor, and the members of the Decatur Municipal Band as 
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they celebrate the 150th anniversary of the band; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Decatur Municipal Band was formed by nine 
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charter members on September 19, 1857, making it one of the 
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oldest non-military bands in continuous service in the United 
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States and Canada; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Band has been known by many names, including 
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the Decatur Brass Band, Decatur Comet Band, and Decatur Silver 
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Band; Andrew Goodman became the conductor in 1871 and served as 
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director until his retirement in 1880; it was known as the 
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Goodman Band until it was chartered with the City of Decatur in 
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1942 and officially designated the Decatur Municipal Band; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Robert Walter from 1887 to 
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1928, the band reached new heights, marching in President 
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McKinley's inaugural parade as the Illinois National Guard 4th 
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Infantry Regimental Band, performing at the  dedication of the 
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Illinois Building at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, and 
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being guest performers at the New Harmony, Indiana Centennial 
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Celebration in 1914; and

 
 


 






HR0660
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LRB095 12935 KXB 38515 r




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    WHEREAS, Though organized as a non-military band, the band 
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was mustered into the Illinois National Guard 4th Infantry 
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during the Spanish-American War and became the regimental band; 
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as a regimental band, it saw active duty during the Civil War, 
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the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border War, and World War 
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I, when the band became the National Guard 130th Infantry Band; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The current Decatur Municipal Band has been under 
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the direction of Jim Culbertson since 1979; it is composed of 
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high school and college students, and adults from all walks of 
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life who play for little money but great satisfaction in 
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playing great music for the Decatur community; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the conductor and members of the Decatur Municipal 
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Band as they celebrate this special anniversary; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Jim Culbertson, Musical Director and Conductor of 
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the Decatur Municipal Band, as a symbol of our respect and 
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esteem.