Senior Raphaelle Bernier once again delivered a great performance of the national anthem at the FMHS home baseball game on Friday, April 26.
Bernier has performed live at six out of seven of the home baseball games for Flower Mound. Most schools only play the national anthem on a CD over their sound system, but Bernier believes that it should be done otherwise.
“It’s more meaningful because anybody can play a track, but finding someone to do it live is unique and different,” Bernier said. “It’s a chance to show off the school’s and students’ pride.”
This belief is shared by FMHS sporting events coordinator William Jacobsen.
“A live national anthem is a tremendous addition to our home baseball games,” Jacobsen said. “It sets the tone for our team in terms of respect for their school, their nation, and their flag.”
Bernier was not presented with the opportunity, but she made it for herself. Since the position isn’t very typical she asked for its availability.
“Most likely it’s that people don’t know that they have the opportunity or they’re too afraid to ask,” Bernier said. “I went to the baseball program and asked them if I could do it.”
Although it was needed for Bernier to ask for the position, William Jacobsen was more than happy to invite her to the program.
“We very much welcomed the opportunity to have a live singer at our home baseball games, and we saw the patriotic spirit it would bring to our games,” Jacobsen said. “We had considered live performances in the past, but could not make the arrangements to do so.”
The sporting events department is now considering making the live performance of the anthem a tradition at FMHS.
“We are currently making arrangements for having a singer in the 2014 season.” Jacobsen said. “Singer selection would be done through various means, from a single performer to performances in groups, and we would work with the Women’s and Men’s Choir departments to secure singers for each home game next year.”
Students are looking forward to hearing the national anthem performed live at all of the FMHS sporting events, and for the tradition to continue for many years to come.
