'Oh, Say, Can You See' Heartland Students Sing Praises of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

At 9 a.m. Sept. 24, students at assembled with community members to celebrate the 197th anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s writing of America’s National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

This event was organized by Kathy Chroust, who is the Music Teacher at Heartland Elementary School. The primary goal of the event was to “encourage more people to learn the words to the song, gain a better understanding of the meaning of the words, show appropriate respect to our flag, and sing our National Anthem with pride whenever they are asked to sing,” Chroust said.

Despite the rain and cold, the morning began with students assembling at the flagpole, welcoming everyone in the crowd to the event, introducing the The Star-Spangled Banner and relaying its history. Fifth-grade students Evan Fenne, Cassie Ernst, Priyanka Sarangabany and Clayton Zak were responsible for the opening of the anniversary event and inviting audience members to join in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and sing The Star Spangled Banner.

It sounded as though the entire community was there, singing together, a powerful and uplifting moment of patriotism in Geneva which could not have come at a better time in the wake of the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Chroust said the anniversary of 9-11 was a “relevant factor” in selecting this time to sing, celebrate the American flag and recognize our country's unity.

“Some of the fourth- and fifth-grade students have brought up 9/11 in our discussions and with the given to 9/11 last Sunday, including the NFL games that many students watched, students now have a greater vested interest in The Star-Spangled Banner,” Chroust said.

In attendance at the 197th Anniversary Celebration were Heartland Elementary School students and parents, city of Geneva officials, School Board members and administrators, VFW Post members and PRIDE volunteers.

"Students have been singing The Star-Spangled Banner in music class and learning the history of how Francis Scott Key came to write the lyrics to the poem on Sept. 14, 1814, as he watched a battle on Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812 against the British,” Chroust said.

Chroust is hopeful that this particular application of classroom learning will help students’ ability to sing The Star-Spangled Banner and to understand the song from a “historical perspective.”