1995 Assembly Resolution 32
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: commending the National Guard's 132nd Army Band.
Whereas, military bands have a long tradition of entertaining service members and civilians with music; and, in Wisconsin, the National Guard's 132nd Army Band keeps the tradition alive and thriving with approximately 60 citizen soldier-musicians who travel the state, the country and even the world with a variety of music that everybody enjoys; and
Whereas, a descendant of the Army Guard's famed 32nd Red Arrow Division bands of World War I and World War II, today's 132nd Army Band is an exceptional band of outstanding musicians, and has helped inaugurate Wisconsin governors; has played honors for the President of the United States; has helped commission the battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin; has played with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; has commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Wisconsin Guard's World War II service in Australia; and has welcomed home each of the Wisconsin Guard's Desert Storm units; and
Whereas, many band members are civilian musicians, music students or band directors, and others represent a number of other civilian professions in their hometowns throughout Wisconsin and other nearby states; but when they come together as the 132nd Army Band, they are all musicians in one of the finer military bands in the Midwest; and
Whereas, audiences may be surprised at the versatility of this army band, which plays a wide range of music that goes far beyond traditional concert and marching band material, and includes 2 big band stage groups; "The Marauders" for dances and the "MRE's" (Musicians Ready to Entertain) show band, along with several small ensembles including "The Wright Stuff" and "In Your Ear" brass quintets; the "EZ" Jazz Combo; a sax quartet; and woodwind and flute choirs; and
Whereas, there is a concert band, which has as many as 60 musicians and has a big, full sound that has delighted audiences from Wisconsin to Australia; and
Whereas, the 132nd Army Band has a group appropriate for almost any event from parades to concerts and everything in between; and
Whereas, the band is under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer William W. Richardson, bandmaster; 1st Sgt. David P. Johnson, enlisted bandmaster; and Staff Sgt. Edward J. Diederich, drum major of the marching band; and
Whereas, the 132nd Army Band contributed significantly to the grand reopening of the Capitol's west wing; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Wisconsin assembly salute the proud tradition and high quality of the 132nd Army Band and thank the band's members for participating in the grand reopening of the Capitol's west wing; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to the 132nd Army Band.
