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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

North Dakota Symbols

North Dakota State March

"Flickertail March" ("Spirit of the Land")

Written by James D. Ployhar

Adopted in 1975.

The North Dakota State March was adopted in 1975.

In 1975 the Legislative Assembly passed H.B. No. 1160, which designated James D. Ployhar's Spirit of the Land as the official state march (1975 S.L., ch. 462). Mr. Ployhar had been commissioned by the North Dakota Band Directors Association to compose a march appropriate for official state functions. Spirit of the Land was played in the Capitol's Great Hall by the Jamestown High School Band on the day the bill passed the House of Representatives in February 1975. Once designated as the state march, Spirit of the Land was sent to a publisher. The title happened to be nearly identical to another march. As a result, the publisher requested that a new title be selected. Mr. Ployhar agreed to Flickertail March. In 1989 the Legislative Assembly approved the change.

North Dakota Legislature
54-02-09. Adoption of North Dakota state march.
"Flickertail March" as composed by Mr. James D. Ployhar is the North Dakota state march. The North Dakota state march must be played in a manner consistent with the respect and dignity due a state march and may be played at appropriate state functions.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.