WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Band Association is a nonprofit organization of 170 adult volunteer musicians and 130 student musicians who enjoy providing high-quality musical performances in the Northern Virginia community; and

WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Band is now in its 47th concert season and brings Northern Virginia the best in symphonic band music through a nine-concert subscription series, Independence Day celebrations, and the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival, as well as Concerts in the Park and Spotlight by Starlight; and

WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Band is nationally recognized as one of the most outstanding community concert bands in the United States, having received the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Silver Scroll Award, the most prestigious honor a community band may receive; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, the City of Fairfax Band was voted into Virginia Living's Best of Virginia rankings, and in 2014, the band was honored with an invitation to perform at the national convention of the Association of Concert Bands; and

WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Band was selected to represent the United States at the annual D-Day memorial ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery at the site of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France; and

WHEREAS, as part of the commemorative ceremony, the City of Fairfax Band will also be showcased in the D-Day Memorial Parade in St. Mère Église and will perform in a concert in Paris; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the City of Fairfax Band Association for its representation of the Commonwealth and the City of Fairfax at the D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, France; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the City of Fairfax Band Association at a band concert as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the band's musical leadership and contributions to cultural life in the Commonwealth.