The National Anthem Project Launches Today From Nation's Capital

The National Anthem Project Launches Today From Nation's Capital

Campaign to Re-Teach America 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Led by Nation's Music Educators

WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Anthem Project, a multi-year effort to re-teach Americans "The Star-Spangled Banner," launched today in Washington, D.C. The national education campaign is led by the National Association for Music Education (MENC). Mrs. Laura Bush serves as Honorary Chairperson.

The nationwide initiative is supported by the Jeep(R) brand, the project's National Presenting Sponsor. The campaign launch comes on the heels of a recent Harris Poll that shows two out of three Americans don't know the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" and many are unaware of the historical events that inspired the penning of the song. This startling statistic prompted MENC, the world's largest arts education association and the only that addresses all facets of music education, to spearhead the project and shine the spotlight on the importance of school music programs, as this is where most Americans learn the national anthem and other patriotic songs. The multi-faceted campaign will include education initiatives in schools across the country, special performances and alliances with professional sporting events, and an extensive mobile marketing tour stopping in cities nationwide. The project is led by the project's official musical ambassadors, The Oak Ridge Boys and is supported by leading organizations across the country, including The Girls Scouts of the U.S.A., The American Legion and The History Channel.

"Today our country is calling on our music educators to restore America's voice," says John Mahlmann, Executive Director, MENC. "It is important that all Americans understand the significance of our anthem's history -- how our national anthem came to be, from the poetry of Francis Scott Key to its association with a musical tune and our country's desire to adopt an official national anthem. We want to remind all Americans to cherish our national treasures and to celebrate our unity and our values in song."

"As the Jeep brand is deeply rooted in American traditions and values, we are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the National Anthem Project and to join the National Association for Music Education in this mission to restore America's voice," said Dieter Zetsche, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Group.

Kick Off Event and World's Largest Concert

The campaign officially kicks off today from Capitol Hill with a live performance of the national anthem by hundreds of children, including the Dorman Singers from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C. and the Thomson Elementary School Choir from Washington, D.C., and will be attended by representatives from the supporting organizations. In addition, more than six million children, teachers and music supporters will participate in the World's Largest Concert today featuring American patriotic songs as well as other popular tunes. The concert will air across the United States and abroad via PBS stations and the Armed Forces Network. Local schools throughout the nation will tune in to participate at 1 p.m. EST.

One goal of the campaign is to change the practice of Americans listening to a soloist perform the anthem, particularly at special events, and to encourage everyone to sing the anthem together. "The official standards for our anthem specifically state that the song was meant to be sung together, but now many Americans don't even know the words to the song or which song is the official anthem," said Mahlmann. "Recent budget cuts to school music programs have silenced our nation, cutting off students from access to learning about our country's historical traditions. Music in schools provides the platform for citizenship that stays with us for a lifetime."

High-Level Support

The National Anthem Project is sponsored by The Jeep brand as National Presenting Sponsor and is supported by leading organizations and individuals nationwide. Supporters include Keith Lockhart, Garrison Keillor, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Congressional Arts Caucus and the White House Commission on Remembrance.

For more information about how to get involved and support the National Anthem Project and school music education, please visit http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/ .

The National Anthem Project is supported by the following organizations:

National Presenting Sponsor: Jeep brand

National Anthem Project Official Musical Ambassadors: The Oak Ridge Boys

Civic/Government: The American Legion, Girl Scouts of the USA, National Sojourners, Inc., The Military Family Network, The National Flag Day Foundation, Inc., Reserve Officers Association, Save America's Treasures, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, The National Endowment for the Arts, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Department of Defense, U.S. Conference of Mayors, White House Commission on Remembrance

Arts/Entertainment/Media: American Musical Salute, The American Sportscasters Association, BMI, Chorus America, Country Music Association, The History Channel, Marching Show Concepts, Inc., Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Education: Alpha Delta Kappa, The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Preparation, American Association of School Administrators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Association of School Business Officials International, Christian Educators Association International, MusicFriends, Music Teachers National Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, National School Boards Association, National School Public Relations Association

Corporate: Executive Press Inc., Walt Disney Company

Trade Associations: Association of Appliance Manufacturers, Association Managers, Inc., NAMM - International Music Products Association, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association

Celebrities: Donnie McClurkin, Garrison Keillor, Keith Lockhart, CeCe Winans

About MENC

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.

Media Contact: Lindsey Schaefer 312-339-5130 lindsey.schaefer@zenogroup.com

Lisa Sabori 312-545-3845 lisa.sabori@zenogroup.com

Source: National Association for Music Education (MENC)

CONTACT: Lindsey Schaefer, +1-312-339-5130, or lindsey.schaefer@zenogroup.com , or Lisa Sabori, +1-312-545-3845, or lisa.sabori@zenogroup.com , both for National Association for Music Education (MENC)

Web site: http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/

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