A resolution celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia.

Whereas the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia were officially chartered in 1856, celebrated the Bristol Centennial in 1956, and have organized to celebrate the Bristol Sesquicentennial in 2006;

Whereas the Bristol Sesquicentennial theme, Celebrating 150 Years of Heritage and Harmony underscores the duality of Bristol as a cohesion of 2 separate cities with 1 communal spirit;

Whereas the Bristol Sign, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, serves to exemplify the communal spirit of Bristol, bridge the States of Tennessee and Virginia over the cooperatively named State Street, and declare Bristol A Good Place to Live;

Whereas the people of Bristol continue to work to preserve structures of historical significance, including the Paramount Theatre, the Old Customs House, and the historic train station;

Whereas the phonographic recordings known as the Bristol Sessions launched the country music careers of the Carter Family, the Stonemans, and Jimmie Rogers, and prompted historians to describe Bristol as the Big Bang of modern country music;

Whereas country music is a central part of the history of Bristol, which Congress recognized as the Birthplace of Country Music;

Whereas the history and economic development of Bristol is intimately tied to commercial transportation and Bristol countinues to serve as an important commercial hub for the surrounding region; and

Whereas automotive racing is integral to the identity of Bristol and the World's Fastest Half-Mile at the Bristol Motor Speedway continues to offer exciting events to scores of racing fans: Now, therefore, be it