National Anthem Project

NBC's Tim Hass Reporting A nationwide effort is underway this morning aimed at familiarizing Americans' with our National Anthem.

Why you may ask? Well, a majority of Americans don't know it very well, or for that matter, at all.

We hear it at nearly every sporting event.

"Oh, say can you see..."

Nearly every political function.

"...and the rocket's red glare...."

But when it comes to knowing the words to our own national anthem..

"What so proudly we....???"

American has become the "Home of the forgetful."

"Could you, off the top of your head, know the line that comes after 'Through the perilous fight?'"

"I would have to go through the whole thing and regurgitate it to get to that point."

"That's not part of the national anthem, is it?"

The answer, if you're wondering, is "O'er the ramparts we watched."

But don't be too surprised. A recent Harris poll showed that nearly two out of three Americans don't know their ramparts from their twilight's last gleaming. But one group is setting out on a year-long, fifty-state tour to change that.

Manny Diaz/Miami Mayor: "Bringing our treasured national anthem back to the heart of all Americans..."

It's called the National Anthem Project, and it kicked off at the Orange Bowl this month. Among other things, the project challenges participants to put the anthem's lyrics in the right order.

"Woo! Eighteen seconds!"

For the really brave, there's some star-spangled karaoke.

"O'er the ramparts we watched..."

The point of all this is that not knowing the national anthem stems not from a lack of patriotism, but from a lack of music education in our schools.

John Mahlmann/National Anthem Project: "Because it's in those school music programs where songs like our Star Spangled Banner is taught."

And organizers are hoping that by the end of their tour, more Americans will know The Star Spangled Banner.

"O'er the land of the free...."

Even if they still can't quite sing it.