The National Anthem Project Hosts Grand Finale Events in Nation's Capital June 14-16

WASHINGTON, June 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Anthem Project, a multi-year effort to re-teach Americans to sing the "The Star-Spangled Banner" and spotlight school music programs, kicks off its Grand Finale today in Washington, D.C. Thousands of school children, teachers and music supporters traveled to the nation's capital to participate in the culmination celebrations on June 14-16, all of which are open to the general public. This national education campaign is led by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) and supported by the Jeep(R) brand, the national presenting sponsor.

The National Anthem Project Grand Finale begins on Flag Day, June 14 and continues through the next two days with events to commemorate the rich history of the national anthem. The highlight of the three-day celebration will be the history-making performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Flag Day. Nearly 5,000 students, teachers and music supporters from across the country along with the National Anthem Project All-Stars will join together to restore America's voice and sing the national anthem at the Sylvan Theater on the Washington Monument grounds. Participants of the National Anthem Project Grand Finale were brought together by the American Musical Salute, the Official Student Travel and Concert Provider of the campaign.

  The schedule of events for the Grand Finale is as follows:

  June 14:

  *  To build excitement for the Grand Finale events and celebrate its
     sponsorship of the campaign, the Jeep brand teamed up with teenage
     country star Taylor Swift and nearly 1,200 students to form the outline
     of the continental United States, the first five words of the national
     anthem -- "O say, can you see" -- and the Jeep logo this morning at
     FedExField outside Washington, D.C., while collectively raising their
     voices to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

  *  The "President's Own" United States Marine Band will host their annual
     Flag Day concert of patriotic selections at 1 p.m. at the Sylvan
     Theater.  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 the history-making performance of the national anthem.

  *  In addition, thousands of schools nationwide will lend their voices to
     the cause by simultaneously singing the national anthem in their
     classrooms at 2 p.m. EDT

  June 15:

  *  Hundreds of music students will sing the national anthem and other
     patriotic songs at various monuments throughout Washington, D.C.

  June 16:

  *  The National Anthem Project Grand Finale concludes on Saturday, June
     16, in Annapolis, Md.

  *  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.

"Since 2005, the National Anthem Project has touched millions of Americans and has made significant progress toward restoring America's voice. It is only fitting to dedicate three days to celebrating the rich history and significance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in our nation's capital," said John Mahlmann, executive director of MENC. "As the National Anthem Project comes to a close, MENC's mission does not. We urge all Americans to continue to demand high-quality music education for all our children and to celebrate our unity and our values in song."

National Anthem Project Through the Years

Two out of three Americans don't know the words to the national anthem, according to a Harris Poll. This startling statistic prompted MENC, the world's largest arts education association, to spearhead the National Anthem 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 campaign launched on the steps of the United States Capitol on March 10, 2005, and has since touched millions of Americans.

In 2006, the project embarked on a year-long, 62-city tour that visited every state in the union. The National Anthem Project truck stopped at local events, schools, sporting events and civic locations to educate local citizens on the history and significance of the national anthem and generate excitement and support for music education. The campaign was most recently featured in the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. In addition, the multi-faceted campaign included education initiatives in schools across the country and special performances and alliances with professional sporting events.

For more information on the National Anthem Project, visit http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/.

High-Level Support

Mrs. Laura Bush serves as the Honorary Chairperson of The National Anthem Project. Additional sponsors include: The History Channel, Gibson Musical Instruments and NAMM, the International Music Products Association. The campaign is also supported by more than 200 civic, education, and entertainment organizations including the Girls Scouts of the U.S.A., American Legion, and sports organizations such as the National Basketball Association (NBA).

  The National Anthem Project is supported by the following organizations:

  National Presenting Sponsor: The Jeep(R) brand

  National Music Industry Sponsor: NAMM, the International Music Products
  Association

  National Sponsors: Eventive Marketing, Gibson Musical Instruments, The
  History Channel, Bank of America, Conn-Selmer, Inc., ASCAP

  Official Musical Ambassadors:  The Oak Ridge Boys

  Official Student Travel and Concert Provider: American Musical Salute

  Official Radio Station of the Grand Finale: 98.7 WMZQ

  Civic/Government: American Independence Foundation, The American Legion,
  Flags Across the Nation, Girl Scouts of the USA, Masonic Service
  Association of North America, The Military Family Network, The Military
  Order of the Purple Heart, The Military Order of the World Wars, Minnesota
  Masonic Charities, National Endowment for the Arts, The National Flag Day
  Foundation, Inc., National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution,
  National Sojourners, Inc., Of Thee We Sing, Reserve Officers Association,
  Save America's Treasures, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of
  American History, Temecula Valley Young Marines, The United States
  Department of Defense, The United States House of Representatives, U.S.
  Conference of Mayors, White House Commission on Remembrance

  Arts/Entertainment/Media/Corporate: 97.1 WASH-FM, Barbershop Harmony
  Society, BMI, Carry-a-Tune Technologies, Chorus America, Clear Channel
  Communications, Country Music Association, Executive Press, Inc., Family
  Magazine, The Grammy Foundation, Marching Show Concepts, Inc., Marmel
  Entertainment, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mrs. America, Inc., National
  Federation for Music Clubs, Sound Choice, VSA arts, Walt Disney Company

  Education: Alpha Delta Kappa, American Association of Colleges for Teacher
  Preparation, American Association of School Administrators, American
  Association of School Librarians, Association for Supervision and
  Curriculum Development, Association of School Business Officials
  International, Christian Educators Association International, Drum Corps
  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 Education
  Association, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS),
  National PTA, National School Board Association, National School Public
  Relations Association, Technology Student Association

  Trade Associations: American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences,
  Association Managers, Inc., Association of Appliance Manufacturers,
  National Association of Federal Credit Unions, National Lumber and
  Building Material Dealers Association, Plumbing, Air Conditioning and
  Mechanical Contractors Association

  Celebrities/Artists: Florence Henderson, Garrison Keillor, Keith Lockhart,
  Donnie McClurkin, Kevin Sorbo, Julie Love Templeton - Mrs. America 2005,
  CeCe Winans

  Sports: The American Sportscasters Association, The National Basketball
  Association (NBA), Major League Baseball teams across the country, The
  Victor Awards

  Individual Donors: The Joseph W. Donner Fund

  About MENC

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, marks its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 130,000 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 Contacts:
  Vanessa Mason
  312-339-7477
  vanessa.mason@zenogroup.com

  Lisa Stringham
  708-743-9524
  lisa.stringham@zenogroup.com