Star-Spangled Summer: Philadelphia and the "Song Heard Round the World"

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Star-Spangled Summer: Philadelphia and the "Song Heard Round the World"

In commemoration of the bicentennial of the Star-Spangled Banner, HSP has been named a National Audience Partner with the Smithsonian for their Raise It Up! Anthem for America campaign. As part of this partnership, HSP will be profiling events and other programming in the greater Philadelphia area that highlight our National Anthem and the American Flag. If you would like your organization's events to be included, please contact Vincent Fraley. 

2014 Stripes and Stars Festival 

  • Saturday, June 14, 2014, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Independence National Historical Park and surrounding locations throughout Historic Philadelphia
  • Admission: Most events are free. The National Constitution Center is offering $5 admission on June 14 courtesy The Macy’s Foundation.  Admission to the Betsy Ross House is $5 on June 14.

Celebrate the shared birthday of two of our country’s greatest institutions—the American flag and the U.S. Army—during Philadelphia’s Stripes and Stars Festival on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Events include flag raising ceremonies, giant flag folding demonstrations, a special exhibition on the history of the flag, and a moving naturalization ceremony. In connection with the Army’s 239th birthday, the festival will also feature appearances by the Army’s elite ceremonial units, including the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Drill Team, the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, the Continental Color Guard, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet, and U.S. Army Voices. Festival events will take place at locations throughout the nation’s most historic square mile—Independence National Historical Park and Historic Philadelphia, including Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, and the National Constitution Center. 

For more information, please visit the Stripes and Stars Festival website.

The Chadds Ford Historical Society

Star-Spangled Crafts for ages 3 and up

  • Every 4th Saturday of the month: June 28, July 26, & August 23
  • 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
  • Chadds Ford Historical Society, Barn Visitors Center
  • Free for Chadds Ford Historical Society members, $5 for non-members.

Kids will love showing off their patriotic spirit this summer by creating festive red, white, and blue crafts that are perfect for gift giving, decor, and fashion accessories. Activities include, making flags, star mobile, salt dough ornaments, and fish-tail bracelets using lucets. Please call the office at 610-388-7376 to register so we can have enough supplies at hand. Free for Chadds Ford Historical Society members, $5 for non-members.

Meet the Author: Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777

  • Sunday, June 15
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • Chadds Ford Historical Society, Barn Visitors Center
  • Suggested donation: $3 for members; $5 for non-members
  • Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration strongly suggested due to limited seating.

Author Michael Harris will be presenting and signing copies of his newly released book Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777. Brandywine Creek calmly meanders through the Pennsylvania countryside today, but on September 11, 1777, it served as the scenic backdrop for the largest battle of the American Revolution, one that encompassed more troops over more land than any combat fought on American soil until the Civil War. Long overshadowed by the stunning American victory at Saratoga, the complex British campaign that defeated George Washington's colonial army and led the capture of the capital city of Philadelphia was one of the most important military events of the war. Michael C. Harris's new book is the first full-length study of this pivotal engagement in many years.

For more information, please visit www.chaddsfordhistory.org

Raise It Up! Anthem for America 

Americans will “Raise it Up!” on Flag Day, June 14, and come together as part of Raise it Up! Anthem for America, a global celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner. Led by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the vision is for Americans across the country and around the world to stop and sing the national anthem at the same time, 4:00pm, on Saturday, June 14.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is proud to be a National Audience Partner with the Smithsonian for Anthem for America. To give Philadelphia a leading voice in the “Song Heard Round the World”, the U.S. Army Voices will be leading group-sing of the national anthem at 4:00pm on Saturday, June 14, 2014, on the front lawn of the National Constitution Center. This event will take place amidst Philadelphia’s Stripes & Stars festival, a daylong celebration of our nation’s flag and the U.S. Army.

A recording of the group-sing will be submitted to YouTube with the hashtag #raiseitup. After the event, the Smithsonian will collect videos submitted to YouTube with the hashtag #raiseitup in an attempt to break the world record for largest online video album. We encourage individuals and organizations to submit video recordings of their own personal performances to YouTube with the same hashtag, #raiseitup