Charlestown's June 13 National Anthem Event to Set a Record

A crowd of 1,000 people of all ages will sing the National Anthem Friday, June 13, in Catonsville, MD, to set a record for Largest Intergenerational Singing of it.

This historic Star-Spangled National Anthem event at Charlestown retirement community will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s writing of the poem (photo) during the bombardment of Fort McHenry that became our National Anthem.

A 30-foot by 42-foot replica of the flag that flew above Fort McHenry will be unfurled by Charlestown residents, staff and schoolchildren.

Everyone will meet at 3 p.m. on the field in front of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown, 715 Maiden Choice Lane in Catonsville, for a brief program that will include:

-- Francis Scott Key living historian (aka National Park Ranger Jim Bailey) will tell the story of how Key wrote the poem that became the National Anthem. He will be dressed and will be in character as Francis Scott Key.

-- Charlestown Resident Veterans’ Color Guard will present the American Flag.

--Charlestown residents, staff and schoolchildren will unfurl a 30-foot by 42-foot replica of the American flag that flew above Fort McHenry

-- Patriotic music will be played during the unfurling of the flag.

-- Charlestown’s resident brass band will play the National Anthem as attendees sing the song together and wave small American flags.

Thousands of people at Charlestown’s sister communities in Michigan, Kansas and Colorado will also sing the National Anthem at the time it is being sung at Charlestown. Combined, more than 3,000 people will sing the National Anthem at this time.

This event will set a record for being the Largest Intergenerational Singing of the National Anthem. A videotape will be sent to Fort McHenry, the Maryland Historical Society, the National Archives, the Guinness Book of World Records, the Smithsonian, and President Barack Obama.

Contact: Mel Tansill (Mel.Tansill@Erickson.com)