OPSB.net - Central and George Welch Celebrate the Anniversary of the National Anthem

Central Elementary School and George Welch Elementary School celebrated the 192nd anniversary of the penning of our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” on Thursday, September 14, 2006. Leading up to this day, students learned about the story behind the anthem’s writing. All students and staff at both schools wore red, white, and blue; and morning activities highlighted the performances of the anthem.

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At Central Elementary several students performed the song on their in-house television station that is sponsored by teachers Jennifer Willis and Jennifer Kelly. The students performing were Casie Bennett, Mason Bourg, Alex Kelly, Courtney Knowles, Wilson Lindsey, Autum Mathis, Shavonna Owens, Terrell Russell, and Rajah Vestel. The entire student body stood in their classrooms, placed their hands over their hearts, and sang the national anthem together. Mr. Jack White played a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the students. Central Elementary Principal Nancy Smith said, “I am delighted that our students were able to celebrate this day in history.” George Welch students gathered around the flagpole at 8:30 a.m. for their performance of the national anthem.

Ouachita Parish music teachers Mary Ann Haynes and Myrrah Thompson worked together to celebrate this anniversary after noticing a 2004 Harris Poll showing that two out of three Americans don’t know the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” They realized that when children know the exciting story behind the writing of the national anthem, they are much more inspired to learn the song, and it comes to life for them.

Our national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key, a Washington attorney, at a powerful moment during the War of 1812. Key watched as our country was attacked by the British navy at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. After seeing “the rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air” through much of the night, dawn finally came. Francis Scott Key was amazed to see a battered but still waving American flag as the sun rose. He was so inspired that he wrote the poem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” that very morning of September 14, 1814. It was set to John Stafford Smith’s tune, “To Anacreon in Heaven,” and in 1931 it became the national anthem of the United States.