WHEREAS, the Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as the National Anthem of the United States in 1931 by an Act of Congress; and

WHEREAS, a recent Harris Interactive Survey discovered that of men and women 18 years of age and older, sixty-one percent of those surveyed did not know all the lyrics of the first stanza. Of those who answered the question correctly, fifty-eight percent had received at least five years of music education while growing up. An ABC News poll revealed that more than one in three Americans (thirty-eight percent) don’t know the official name of the National Anthem is The Star-Spangled Banner, less than thirty-five percent of American teens can name Francis Scott Key as the composer of the National Anthem, and as few as fifteen percent of American youth can sing the words to the anthem from memory; and

WHEREAS, cities and states play an important role in protecting American culture as do the music educators tasked with teaching American children songs like the National Anthem; and

WHEREAS, the National Association of Music Educators has taken a lead role in promoting the National Anthem through “The National Anthem Project”; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges mayors to participate in the National Anthem Project by issuing proclamations in support of the project, urging citizens to participate in the project, applauding the efforts of music teachers to teach our musical heritage, and to hold community events to re- teach the National Anthem.