New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ American Public Education Foundation) Students and teachers nationwide have made history this week. More than 200,000 students coast to coast will simultaneously sing the Star Spangled Banner at 10:00am PDT - 1:00pm EDT. The request is made by the American Public Education Foundation (APEF) which is providing free, educational resources on the words, meaning, music and history of the
National Anthem. There are major events taking place around the country including Fort McHenry where the
National Anthem was written. 1,500 students will gather at the fort which will also have a camera so classrooms can join in on the countdown to the event.
APEF President
David Pickler says he is proud and overwhelmed by the response. "There were times this week that more than 10,000 people signed up in just one hour."
Adds Mia Toschi, of Glen Rock, New Jersey, who founded the
National Anthem Movement, "This is a simple - yet meaningful event that celebrates citizenship and provides teachers with an activity on 9/11."
Below is a list of APEF's
National Partners for the
National Anthem Movement. Please remember time zones. The event begins at 10:00am PDT - 1:00pm EDT.
Flight 93
National Park - A small gathering of singers led by Jill Cueni-Cohen, author of Like It Was Yesterday, A Journalist's Files Since 9/11
Hesperia Unified School District sent notices to all its teachers and smaller communities like LaPorte,
Indiana encouraged all students to wear red, white and blue
Additionally, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) and Governor Bill Haslam (R-TN) both sent proclamations to the American Public Education Foundation recognizing their work in providing the free educational resources on 9/11. Minnesota's U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN-D) also sent a letter to all students in her state explaining remembering 9/11 is so important. Every U.S. Senator and Governor was asked to participate.
Educators are encouraged to log on to www.theapef.org where they will find a rich and full curriculum, created by Retired Principal
Maria Basilko Davis, Med, which will provide lessons for social studies, geography, history, music and English teachers. Mrs. Davis's school, Duncan Elementary, located on Fort Hood, Texas, received recognition as a
National School of Character. She called it a "personal honor to create these materials."
Springboard Afterschool and Education Networks of
America are official partners of APEF.
APEF is also an official program partner of the 9/11 Day Observance (911day.org)
