Although National Anthem Day is celebrated on March 3, the day the “Star-Spangled Banner” officially became the national anthem, for the last 10 years Cornwall Middle School has paid homage to the song around Sept. 14, the day Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics. On Sept. 13, students recited the national anthem during the morning announcements. Shortly after, the seventh and eighth grade chorus gathered in front of the flag pole to recite the first, and most well-known verse.
In 2005, National Anthem Project, a public awareness campaign, was launched as a major initiative of the National Association for Music Education. Its goal was to educate Americans about the importance of the Star-Spangled Banner.
“It was to get people singing the National Anthem,” music teacher Valerie Ransbottom said of the initiative. “It’s the song of the people. We’ve done it every year since.”
“A lot of times we become complacent about the National Anthem and even the pledge – we do it every day and it just becomes a thing,” Ransbottom said. “I think it’s good because they become actively engaged when we have this type of discussion.”
The message seems to be getting across to the students. To Michaela Kirwan, the National Anthem represents our country’s freedom. Abby Dunning said it reminds her how proud she is to be an American.
As the students sang underneath Old Glory, they were asked to think about what they were singing.
“How lucky we are to be able to sing,” said Dunning.
“How lucky we are to have our independence,” added Kirwan.
