During the pregame of Super Bowl XLVII, children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus joined Jennifer Hudson to perform a touching rendition of “America the Beautiful” in front of a worldwide audience of millions.

“We have come to New Orleans to represent the Sandy Hook Family and the community of Newtown, Connecticut,” a statement from the school said. “Our wish is to demonstrate to America and the world that, ‘We are Sandy Hook and We Choose Love.’ “

The performance, which comes less than two months after a deadly mass shooting at the school, “had some of the players on the sideline and countless fans in the stands on the verge of tears,” Sports Illustrated reported.

SI.com:

Judging by the responses on social media, the performance appeared destined to become one of the most poignant memories of the Super Bowl, regardless of what played out in the game.

“Sandy hook elementary chorus singing America the beautiful and Alicia keys national anthem makes me proud to be American,” model Kate Upton, who was attending the game, said on her Twitter page.

Gerald Rokoff, standing near a portal in the Superdome’s upper deck, turned and said, “Beyond beautiful,” when the children finished singing.

Numerous viewers made references on social media to tearing up or getting goose bumps.

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— Posted by Tracy Bloom.

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