Nearly 1,000 School Children Sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Live and 'In Formation' to Celebrate the National Anthem Project on Flag Day

Nearly 1,000 School Children Sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Live and 'In Formation' to Celebrate the National Anthem Project on Flag Day

-- Taylor Swift, teenage country music sensation, joins children to help the Jeep(R) brand celebrate sponsorship of multi-year initiative to re-teach Americans the words to the national anthem -- Event kicks off three days of "star-spangled" grand finale activities in the Washington, D.C., area for the National Anthem Project

WASHINGTON, June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the nation recognizes Flag Day, nearly 1,000 school children from across the country, standing in the formation of the continental United States, joined country music star Taylor Swift and the Jeep(R) brand at FedExField, outside Washington, D.C., in the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," kicking off three days of activities celebrating the grand finale of the National Anthem Project.

(Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070614/CLTH059 )

Created by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) and supported by the Jeep brand, the "National Anthem Project: Restoring America's Voice" is celebrating the conclusion of a multi-year national education initiative to re-teach Americans "The Star-Spangled Banner" after a Harris Poll showed that two out of three Americans don't know the words to the national anthem. First Lady Laura Bush serves as the Honorary Chairperson.

The visual of the continental U.S., which also included the first five words from the national anthem -- "O say, can you see" -- and the Jeep brand logo, measured approximately 160 ft. wide by 250 ft. long.

"As the Jeep brand is deeply rooted in American traditions and values, we have been very proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of the National Anthem Project and to join the National Association for Music Education in this mission to restore America's voice," said Jason Vines, Vice President - Communications, Chrysler Group.

The National Anthem Project kicked off in March 2005, with a celebration on Capitol Hill. The following year, the National Anthem Project went on the road to 62 cities, shining the spotlight on the importance of school music programs and reaching millions of citizens across the country.

As the National Presenting Sponsor, the Jeep brand has helped raise awareness for this important initiative. In 2005, the brand, with the help of its owners, created a giant American flag out of 140 Jeep vehicles at Camp Jeep, its annual owner event, in the Poconos, Pa. When the National Anthem Project Mobile Tour came to Detroit in 2006, more than 300 Chrysler Group employees formed the first five words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" -- "O say, can you see" -- on the grounds of the company's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

National Anthem Project Grand Finale Activities

Following the Jeep event, the National Anthem Project will continue its grand finale celebration with activities planned for June 14, 15 and 16. The schedule of events is as follows:

At 1 p.m. on June 14, the "President's Own" United States Marine Band will host their annual Flag Day concert of patriotic selections at the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument. 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 nearly 5,000 students, teachers and music supporters in a history-making performance of the national anthem.

School music ensembles will perform during the day at prominent national monuments throughout Washington, D.C. and Virginia on Friday, June 15.

On June 16, 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.

For more information about the National Anthem Project, visit http://www.nationalanthemproject.org/.

About the Jeep Brand

The Jeep brand has expanded to seven models in the 2007 model year, the most available to retail consumers at one time in the brand's 66-year history. With the introduction of the all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV), Jeep offers customers the freshest, most capable and widest range of sport-utility vehicles under one brand in the industry.

At the start of 2004, the brand's trio of tough, capable, rugged SUVs included the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America) and the icon of the brand, the Jeep Wrangler. In 2005, the Jeep Commander was introduced. In 2006, the redesigned Jeep Wrangler was unveiled. Also debuting in calendar year 2006 were three more all-new Jeep vehicles: Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: jau8@dcx.com

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070614/CLTH059
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Chrysler Group

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