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NPS
Contact: Mike Litterst, 410-962-4290 BALTIMORE - Virtual visitors from around the globe have the unique opportunity to tune in live and watch the formation of the Star-Spangled Banner Living Flag on Tuesday, September 9. The project, which will use more than 7,000 red, white and blue-clad Maryland students to create the largest 15-stars and stripes Star-Spangled Banner ever assembled, will take place at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the birthplace of The Star-Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. The webcast will be available at www.starspangledbannerlivingflag.org from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.The enormous undertaking is a cooperative effort of the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort McHenry as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Star-Spangled Banner. Beginning at 8 a.m., students will participate in a star-spangled education program that includes interviews with historic personalities, trivia, special films, music and more. Then at 10:30 a.m., the formation of the living flag will begin and is expected to be completed at noon. Once formed, the students will maintain their formation for approximately 20 minutes.
"The defense of Fort McHenry and the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner are defining moments in our nation's history, when Americans rich and poor, black and white, male and female, free and enslaved banded together to defend their country's young democracy," said Tina Cappetta, superintendent of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. "We invite our visitors worldwide to watch this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in which these students literally become part of history as they learn about two of our nation's greatest symbols of freedom and democracy –the American flag and the National Anthem."
As part of the Star-Spangled Banner Living Flag event, students and teachers are invited to also view a live, distance learning webcast. The free, one-hour, curriculum-based program begins at 12 p.m. and will feature a discussion of all things Star-Spangled Banner with Park Rangers from Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Log in at www.starspangledbannerlivingflag.org to join the webcast.
Fort McHenry's Star-Spangled Banner Living Flag is one of a weeklong series of events celebrating the 200th anniversary of our National Anthem. Star Spangled Spectacular, a free festival sponsored by Star-Spangled 200, Inc. and the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission is hosting a variety of bicentennial activities at other venues throughout Baltimore, including, the Inner Harbor, Martin State Airport and Pier Six Pavilion. For additional information on these and other events, visit www.starspangled200.com
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About Fort McHenry National Monument &Historic Shrine
During the Battle of Baltimore, September 13–14, 1814, the valiant defense of the star-shaped Fort McHenry against the might of the British navy inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." The 15 broad stripes and 15 bright stars still fly over the fort 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most famous as the birthplace of our National Anthem, the fort was used continuously in a variety of ways through World War II. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FtMcHenryNPS and on Twitter, @FtMcHenryNPS. About Friends of Fort McHenry
The Friends of Fort McHenry serves to support educational programming and living history activities, and the creation of interpretive exhibits and visitor facilities that engender the widest appreciation of the Fort and the enduring legacy of "The Star-Spangled Banner," our National Anthem. The Friends achieve this mission through generous support from those who value our heritage and the impact that history can have upon our young people. The Friends of Fort McHenry is a program of the Living Classrooms Foundation. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfFortMcHenry and on Twitter, @ftmchenryfriend |
Last updated: February 26, 2015