State Song Record: Home Means Nevada sing-along at 25,000 feet
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 10/30/2014 - 3:55pm
Carson City resident Ken Beaton was flying from Las Vegas to Reno Thursday morning on Southwest Airlines when, at 10 a.m., he commissioned a flight attendant to help him lead 154 passengers and crew members in singing “Home Means Nevada” at 25,000 feet.
The 39-year-resident of Carson City printed up 25 sheets of lyrics, passed them out to passengers and encouraged them to share and sing along. A flight attendant recorded it on a cell phone while he sang it over the 737 jet’s public address system.
“This required me to step out of my comfort zone,” said Beaton. “People were caught up in the moment when we did it. When the passengers got off the plane they passed my wife at the escalator and asked 'Do you know that silver haired guy?' and 'Is that the state song?'”
Leading up to Nevada Day and the 150th birthday of the Silver State, thousands participated in the Nevada 150 Commission #NevadaSings project designed to demonstrate state pride and an attempt to set the record for the most people in an American state to sing their state song at the same time.
Beaton came up with the idea on Oct. 19, when he read about staging the event to break the record. He said he knew he’d be in the air returning from Las Vegas at 10 a.m., the moment the song would be sung statewide.
Beaton said the Southwest Airlines flight crew was very accommodating and caught up in the spirit as well.
“It turned out way better than I thought. It was memorable,” he said. “How many moments does a 150 years come up that you are there to mark the moment? Not that often. I had a great time doing that.”
Organizers said the turnout to Thursday’s sing-along was overwhelming.
“We are thrilled at the response we’ve received to our #NevadaSings event today,” said Nicole Carlsen, Nevada 150 spokeswoman. “Nevadans demonstrated their state pride this morning by singing Home Means Nevada in an attempt to establish a state record for the most people in an American state to sing their state song at once.
“It has been so amazing to hear about all the unique ways Nevadans have found to set this world record,” Carlsen said of Beaton’s efforts.
As some of the rural communities may be sending in their results throughout the next few days, RecordSetter will have official results in the coming week, she said.
"The Sesquicentennial celebration has been one for the record books and we couldn’t be more pleased that Nevadans have engaged and celebrated our great State,” she said.
Nevadans were encouraged to participate at offices, schools, homes, parks, and community centers. Video or photo proof should be submitted on www.Nevada150.org for RecordSetter to establish and verify the record.
