NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee is now officially the Volunteer State under a bill signed by Gov. Bill Lee.
The governor signed the legislation in a video posted on Twitter on Friday. The official nickname becomes law immediately.
Tennessee first became known as “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812 due to its prominent role of sending 1,500 volunteer soldiers. However, despite the popularity of the nickname, the bill’s sponsors say it was never officially adopted into Tennessee’s statutes.
Sen. Becky Duncan Massey and Rep. Jason Zachary, both Republicans, sponsored the bill and the GOP-supermajority Legislature passed it easily.
According to the secretary of state’s website, the War of 1812 thrust Tennessee into the national spotlight by showcasing its “military and political prowess.”