Iowa - the official state instrument.

I saw this on the ITA website and personally, I think it's awesome!


Iowa State Legislation Considering Making Trombone the State Musical Instrument

It's not a state muffin or bird, but there are those who think Iowa's cultural heritage owes a lot...to the trombone. Two northern Iowa senators want to slide a resolution past their peers to make the trombone Iowa's official state musical instrument. Thurman Gaskill of Corwith, a Republican, and Democrat Amanda Ragan, a Senator from Mason City, point out that nothing did more to make the state famous than Meredith Willson's "Music Man," and of course Glenn Miller, a native of Clarinda, Iowa, was a renowned trombonist and big band leader. It's the mainstay of every marching band, their resolution points out -- the giant among jazz band instruments, and the two say it's high time the trombone was Iowa's official state instrument. A copy of the proposed resolution follows:

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 20
BY RAGAN and GASKILL
A Resolution declaring the trombone Iowa's premier musical instrument.
WHEREAS, the trombone is certainly the most recognizable of the brass instruments, being the only one with a true slide section, having been in existence for over five centuries, and remaining relatively unchanged; and
WHEREAS, the trombone holds a unique place in Iowa's musical heritage; and
WHEREAS, two of Iowa's favorite sons, Meredith Willson and Glenn Miller, have made the trombone a centerpiece of their careers; and
WHEREAS, the trombone was made famous by Mason City native Meredith Willson in that rousing song "76 Trombones," which was part of his Broadway hit and Hollywood movie "The Music Man"; and
WHEREAS, Clarinda native Glenn Miller made dynamic use of the trombone in his big band hits "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," and "A String of Pearls"; and
WHEREAS, the trombone is a mainstay of every marching band and jazz band in Iowa and in the nation;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate, honoring the lives and music of those great Iowans, Meredith Willson and Glenn Miller, declares the trombone Iowa's premier musical instrument.