Nearly 1,000 School Children Sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Live and 'In Formation' to Celebrate the National Anthem Project on
June 14 2007 - 12:32PM
PR Newswire (US)
-- Taylor Swift, teenage country music sensation, joins children to
help the Jeep(R) brand celebrate sponsorship of multi-year
initiative to re-teach Americans the words to the national anthem
-- Event kicks off three days of "star-spangled" grand finale
activities in the Washington, D.C., area for the National Anthem
Project WASHINGTON, June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the nation
recognizes Flag Day, nearly 1,000 school children from across the
country, standing in the formation of the continental United
States, joined country music star Taylor Swift and the Jeep(R)
brand at FedExField, outside Washington, D.C., in the singing of
"The Star-Spangled Banner," kicking off three days of activities
celebrating the grand finale of the National Anthem Project.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070614/CLTH059 )
Created by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) and
supported by the Jeep brand, the "National Anthem Project:
Restoring America's Voice" is celebrating the conclusion of a
multi-year national education initiative to re-teach Americans "The
Star-Spangled Banner" after a Harris Poll showed that two out of
three Americans don't know the words to the national anthem. First
Lady Laura Bush serves as the Honorary Chairperson. The visual of
the continental U.S., which also included the first five words from
the national anthem -- "O say, can you see" -- and the Jeep brand
logo, measured approximately 160 ft. wide by 250 ft. long. "As the
Jeep brand is deeply rooted in American traditions and values, we
have been very proud to have had 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 Jason Vines, Vice President - Communications, Chrysler Group.
The National Anthem Project kicked off in March 2005, with a
celebration on Capitol Hill. The following year, the National
Anthem Project went on the road to 62 cities, shining the spotlight
on the importance of school music programs and reaching millions of
citizens across the country. As the National Presenting Sponsor,
the Jeep brand has helped raise awareness for this important
initiative. In 2005, the brand, with the help of its owners,
created a giant American flag out of 140 Jeep vehicles at Camp
Jeep, its annual owner event, in the Poconos, Pa. When the National
Anthem Project Mobile Tour came to Detroit in 2006, more than 300
Chrysler Group employees formed the first five words of "The
Star-Spangled Banner" -- "O say, can you see" -- on the grounds of
the company's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. National Anthem
Project Grand Finale Activities Following the Jeep event, the
National Anthem Project will continue its grand finale celebration
with activities planned for June 14, 15 and 16. The schedule of
events is as follows: At 1 p.m. on June 14, the "President's Own"
United States Marine Band will host their annual Flag Day concert
of patriotic selections at the Sylvan Theater at the Washington
Monument. Promptly at 2 p.m., the Oak Ridge Boys, the Official
Musical Ambassadors of the National Anthem Project, will join the
Marine Band in leading nearly 5,000 students, teachers and music
supporters in a history-making performance of the national anthem.
School music ensembles will perform during the day at prominent
national monuments throughout Washington, D.C. and Virginia on
Friday, June 15. On June 16, Drum Corps International, comprised of
the world's most elite and exclusive marching music ensembles, will
host an evening of family entertainment at the United States Naval
Academy's Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The event begins at 3
p.m. with a music festival where attendees can enjoy interactive
activities that teach the historical significance of the national
anthem, sing "Star-Spangled" karaoke or play different instruments.
At 6 p.m., six of the world's finest drum corps will compete on
"opening day" of the 2007 Summer Music Games Tour, which
encompasses some 140 events throughout North America. For more
information about the National Anthem Project, visit
http://www.nationalanthemproject.org/. About the Jeep Brand The
Jeep brand has expanded to seven models in the 2007 model year, the
most available to retail consumers at one time in the brand's
66-year history. With the introduction of the all-new 2008 Jeep
Liberty mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV), Jeep offers customers
the freshest, most capable and widest range of sport-utility
vehicles under one brand in the industry. At the start of 2004, the
brand's trio of tough, capable, rugged SUVs included the venerable
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America)
and the icon of the brand, the Jeep Wrangler. In 2005, the Jeep
Commander was introduced. In 2006, the redesigned Jeep Wrangler was
unveiled. Also debuting in calendar year 2006 were three more
all-new Jeep vehicles: Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and the four-door
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070614/CLTH059
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT:
Jodi Tinson, +1-248-512-2944, cell: +1-586-219-0677, , Carrie
McElwee, +1-248-512-2664, cell: +1-248-613-7752, , both of Chrysler
Group; or Sharon Hegarty of Strat@comm, +1-248-649-8000, cell:
+1-248-320-6891, Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.nationalanthemproject.org/
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