PSU students join National Anthem Project

If you've been to a football game lately, it will not come as a surprise to learn that two-thirds of Americans don't know all the words to "The Star Spangled Banner." And of the third who do know the words, few are willing to sing them out loud.

A group of Pittsburg State University music students is hoping to make a small dent in that statistic on Thursday, Sept. 14, when the visit seven schools in Pittsburg as part of the National Anthem Project. The PSU students hope to teach young Americans the words to the anthem, the tune and perhaps a little history in the process. They chose Sept. 14 to coincide with the Sept. 13 anniversary of the birth of the "Star Spangled Banner." On that date in 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to what would become our national anthem as he watched the British attack on Fort McHenry in Maryland.

The National Anthem Project was created by the National Association for Music Education (MENC). It is a multi-year national effort to re-teach Americans the national anthem.

In Pittsburg, more than 30 PSU music students are expected to participate. They will visit the following schools at the following times:
1 p.m. - Covenant Harvest School, 615 S HWY 69
1:15 p.m. - Pittsburg High School (Choir Room), 1978 E. 4th
1:30 p.m. - Pittsburg High School (Choir Room), 1978 E. 4th
1:30 p.m. - Pittsburg Middle School, 1310 N. Broadway
3 p.m. - Westside Elementary School (Music Room), 430 W. 5th
3 p.m. - Lakeside Elementary School (Music Room), 709 S. College
3 p.m. - George Nettles Elementary School (Music Room), 2012 S. Homer

Did you know?
The flag that Francis Scott Key saw had 15 stars and 15 stripes.
The Star Spangled Banner did not officially become the U.S. national anthem until 1931.
The original poem that Frances Scott Key wrote was titled, "The Defense of Fort McHenry."
The lyrics that Francis Scott Key wrote were set to an English pub song, "To Anacreon in Heaven?"

For more on the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key, www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/starflag.htm
For more on the National Anthem Project,
www.menc.org

---Pitt State---