|
|
Frequently Asked Questions 1. Why is September 14th National Anthem Day? Washington attorney Francis Scott Key penned the song of our nation at a dramatic moment during the War of 1812. On the night of September 13, 1814, Key watched as the British navy at Fort McHenry attacked our country. So inspired was Key by the reliance of the American troops, on September 14th he wrote the poem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It officially became America's national anthem in 1931. 2. What have other schools done in the past to celebrate National Anthem Day? In past years, over 3,000 schools participated in an event for the anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Music teachers used this day as an opportunity to teach the words and history of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and increased awareness of their school's music education program. On this day each year, schools, city halls, and other public sites conducted assemblies, concerts, and press conferences. Click here for more ideas on creating your own event. 3. How can I get the media to attend my National Anthem Day event? Inviting the media to National Anthem Day brings attention to your school and impresses your community. Visit our Media 101 page for tips on how to approach local news stations, newspapers and radio stations. 4. How can I invite government and school officials to my school’s National Anthem Day? Inviting politicians brings further attention to your National Anthem Day event as well as communicating the importance of music education to a broader audience. When contacting these leaders, outline how the school is recognizing the national anthem’s anniversary and how important this lesson will be to your students and the community. Influential leaders to invite might include the mayor, school superintendent, school board members, as well as state and national representatives. 5. Our school is planning a September 11 event, Constitution Day event or both. Can I combine either of these days with a September 14th event? What if my school can’t celebrate National Anthem Day on September 14th? Although a single National Anthem Day is ideal, it may be necessary to combine these events. Similar to National Anthem Day, September 11th and Constitution Day events will allow your students to reflect upon core American themes: freedom and liberty. If you use these themes to combine these days, your students will celebrate our history and the importance of music education. Although National Anthem Day is September 14, some schools may have scheduling conflicts. We encourage those unable to participate on September 14th to reschedule and have their own celebration day. 6. Can I celebrate National Anthem Day at my Back to School Night? Yes, combining Back To School Night and National Anthem Day would be valuable to your students and their parents. One of the main goals of National Anthem Day is to increase support from your community for music education. Back To School Nights are ideal because they have the ability to reach so many parents at once. 7. How can my school become an All Star School? Every school that conducts a National Anthem Day celebration will be awarded an All Star School title for their dedication to music education. If you are interested in having your school be awarded All Star School status, please e-mail tnap@menc.org. 8. How can I buy awareness items for National Anthem Day? National Anthem Project t-shirts, hats, bumper magnets, umbrellas, mugs and more are available online. All proceeds support the National Anthem Project educational campaign. 9. How can I share my school’s September 14th participation with MENC and teachers? To share how your school participated in National Anthem Day with MENC, please visit our Web site. 10. If my school participated in past National Anthem Day celebrations, can my school still receive a certificate for this year? Absolutely! MENC would be happy to create a certificate for each year your school participates. |
