AUBURN – The city’s National Anthem Project will culminate Thursday with a Flag Day ceremony at 6 p.m. at Festival Plaza.

The event is scheduled to coincide with nationally televised closing ceremonies taking place that day in Washington, said Fairview Elementary School music teacher Brian Gagnon, who spearheaded the local project.

Auburn is the only city in Maine to be named an “All-Star City” by the National Anthem Project and first lady Laura Bush for including “The Star-Spangled Banner” in schools and civic events.

Thursday’s ceremony will begin with opening remarks from Mayor John Jenkins followed by the Auburn Elementary Chorus students, who will offer a few “did-you-knows?” about the history of the song and the American flag.

Students will then lead those in attendance in singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” There will also be a short program of other songs encompassing styles of American music such as jazz, spiritual, folk and contemporary. Students plan to end the program with a sing-a-long of well-known patriotic songs.

The National Anthem Project begun in 2005 to encourage schools to teach the anthem. Auburn students have sung it at three City Council meetings and three School Committee meetings and have performed before Maineiacs games at the Colisee and at Portland Seadogs games.