April 11, 2014 – Captain Mark Ware of the Sandy Springs Fire Department in Sandy Springs, G.A., and Lieutenant Rodney Brooks of the Henry County Fire Department in McDonough, G.A., were announced today as the winners of a National Anthem singer contest sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Ware and Brooks submitted their audition video in the nationwide contest and were chosen as one of three finalists by a panel of NFPA judges. More than 2,700 public votes were then cast between March 31 and April 4. Ware and Brooks’ garnered the majority of votes, declaring them winners. Their submission can be viewed at www.nfpa.org/anthem.
“We’re very excited for Capt. Ware and Lt. Brooks,” says Linda Bailey, division manager of Conferences & Meetings at NFPA. “They put on a heartfelt and compassionate performance, and we look forward to seeing them in action.”
Video: Watch the contest entry from Captain Mark Ware and Lieutenant Rodney Brooks.
As contest winners, Ware and Brooks will receive a roundtrip flight to Las Vegas, one-night hotel accommodations and full conference registration to the NFPA Conference & Expo®, where they will perform the national anthem in front of more than 3,000 attendees during the association’s Opening General Session.
“These gentlemen are truly motivated, enthusiastic, and blessed with considerable talent,” says Randy Toms, mayor of Warner Robbins Georgia and Chaplin for the GA Fire Chiefs Association. “Their customized rendition of the National Anthem is performed with such poise and compassion that it soothes every ear that hears it.”
Congratulations to Capt. Mark Ware and Lt. Rodney Brooks on winning the National Anthem contest!
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
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Contact: Lorraine Carli, Public Affairs Office: +1 617 984-7275