NQID becomes ‘Sing and Shout for Vermont’ Saturday, June 27

June 26, 2020 | By Waterbury Roundabout

This year’s "Not Quite Independence Day" celebration is not quite like any other Waterbury has known. 

Due to public health concerns around COVID-19, the Waterbury Rotary Club  is skipping the typical parade, festival and fireworks. 

In its place at 9 p.m. Saturday night, June 27 - the customary date of NQID as the last Saturday before Independence Day - will be a simple yet festive call to "Sing and Shout for Vermont." 

The aim this year is to “celebrate our freedoms and show appreciation for the many people who are helping during this challenging time,” the Rotary explains in its announcement.

Here’s the plan: at 9 p.m. WDEV (96.1 FM or 550 AM or online at wdevradio.com) will broadcast “The Star-Spangled Banner.” For the “sing” part of this, everyone listening in Waterbury and beyond is encouraged to go outside, sing along loudly with neighbors. 

The “shout” part follows: “After the song everyone can make joyful noise using musical instruments, drums, car horns, yodeling, or other means, but please no discharging of firearms,” the Rotary said.

For frequencies outside of Waterbury or online streaming, visit wdevradio.com but note that there may be a delay in streaming.

And because people can listen from just about anywhere, Rotary organizers hope this will catch on. “Let's hear singing and shouting across the hills and villages of Vermont!” the announcement enthusiastically suggests.

In case you need to brush up on the words to the national anthem, here are the lyrics. 

The Star-Spangled Banner

By Francis Scott Key 

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?