BANGOR, Maine — On Sept. 11, students across the nation will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in unison.
The American Public Education Foundation, an independent nonprofit group that works with public school educators and students to ensure the next generations of students are engaged citizens, is behind the event.
At 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, on Sept. 11, schools are invited to have their students and faculty sing the National Anthem.
The event also marks the end of a yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the day in 1814 that Francis Scott Key penned the poem that became the national anthem, according to APEF, as well as of the terrorist attacks of 2001.
The APEF is offering free anthem-related educational materials for history, geography, music and English teachers who want to incorporate them into their curriculum for the day.
“Events can be just five minutes long or can be 30 minutes long,” Mia Toschi, director of strategic partnerships for the foundation, said. “We are hoping schools will invite their mayors, police chiefs or American Legion members to participate as well.”
This is the second year of the singalong. The foundation hopes to make it an annual event. This year they hope to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest simultaneous singalong of the national anthem.
The Maine Department of Education isn’t coordinating schools’ participation in the event but welcomes local schools to take part, according to spokeswoman Anne Gabbianelli.
For more information, to sign up your school or get materials related to the event, visit theapef.org.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.