Barring a downpour, Sulphur Springs Independent School District Fine Arts Department will put on a special program before the Oct. 11 Wildcat football game in honor of the 130th anniversary of the first time the Star Spangled Banner was officially designated as the national anthem by the Naval Academy. All groups in the SSISD Fine Arts Department from elementary students on up will be taking part in the celebration.
“Our goal is to have the entire stadium join us in singing the Star Spangled Banner. It may end up sounding like a train wreck, it is one of the hardest songs to sing, but it will be great!” said SSISD Fine Arts Coordinator Cindy Welch.
The high school band will be on the right side of the field Friday evening. The high school drill team will be in their normal position, with the line slightly condensed for the anthem.
Choirs from both the high school and middle school will anchor the choir below the front hash from the 45 to 45 yard line. Elementary and primary school choir students from second through fifth grades will be on the 50 yard line. They will also sign along with the anthem.
SSISD Fine Arts Director Spencer Emmert will be conducting the band and choirs.
High school theatre department is preparing a PSA video about the Star Spangled Banner to share with the students between Sept. 27 and Oct. 8. They will also help hold flags in the back field at the Oct. 11 game.
Middle school art students are creating a color sheet for the elementary students. These were delivered to the campuses at the end of September. High school art students are producing a postcard that will include art work and the words to the Star Spangled Banner. These will be handed out to any fans who would like one at the stadium. Both groups of art students will also help hold flags during the presentation.
Bleacher creatures who want to participate can curve back to the 50 yard line to join the choir.
Kevin Woolley will have a script to announce the Star Spangled Banner Project.
“The students will receive a red/white/blue wristband at their entrance gate and get in free. Parents will still have to have a ticket,” Welch said.
Initially, Bush and Bowie Primary students were asked to wear blue, while Lamar and Travis Primary students to wear red. Sulphur Springs Elementary, Middle and High School students were to wear red, white and blue to the stadium. However, Welch Tuesday reported, the kids will be allowed to wear gold for the gold out or the red, white and blue.
Only a downpour would dampen the students’ ability to perform the program Friday. School officials will be keeping an eye on the weather. The forecast currently shows rain likely during the day Friday and a slight chance predicted that night.
In the event of a downpour at concert time, the program would be halted to prevent damage to equipment and kids getting soaked.
“If we are rained out, we won’t be able to postpone to Oct. 25 because of pre-game schedule conflicts,” Welch noted.
