Your legislature, in action, honoring “The Surf”

Perhaps the two words "in action" should be merged into one:  "inaction."  Whatever your opinion of the current pace of the 2009 Iowa Legislature, you should be advised an important resolution was passed this morning by the Iowa House. It honors the historic place near the place where the music died (Buddy Holly being "the music" in that sentence; it's a reference to the Don McLean song "American Pie"). 

Read the resolution honoring the historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake below (warning:  you are about to read one very long run-on sentence).

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 33    
BY REPRESENTATIVES LINDA UPMEYER (R-GARNER) and PAUL BELL (D-NEWTON)
A Resolution to recognize the Iowa landmark the Surf Ballroom.

WHEREAS, in 1933 the Surf Ballroom opened its doors in Clear Lake, Iowa, providing music, dancing, and a chance to escape, for a few hours, the worries and cares of the Great Depression; and

WHEREAS, as the decades passed virtually every big name entertainer stopped at the Surf, including:  Duke Ellington, the Little River Band, Loverboy, The Righteous Brothers, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Waylon Jennings, and Bobby Rydell; and

WHEREAS, the Surf Ballroom has also known great tragedy == the original ballroom burned to the ground in 1947 and on February 3, 1959, three of the most popular rock and roll stars from the 1950s, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, died in a plane crash after performing at the Surf Ballroom; and

WHEREAS, the Surf Ballroom hosts the last stop of the "Winter Dance Party Tour", an annual tribute, on
the anniversary of Holly's last performance; and

WHEREAS, on January 28, 2009, nearly 50 years after that sad day, the Surf Ballroom was designated an official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame historical landmark;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes the Surf allroom as a cultural icon in Iowa and applauds the ongoing efforts of local citizens who have dedicated themselves to making sure that the music, and the Surf Ballroom, never dies.