Following in the footsteps of the Portland Timbers, the Miami Heat announced that the team's fans will sing the national anthem before Game 2 of the Heat's second-round playoff series game against Boston Tuesday night.

The team officials made the announcement one day after news broke that that Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. The Heat say they plan to have members of the armed forced unfurl a 50-foot American flag at center court during the singing of the anthem.

The event is part of the "Home Strong" program Heat President Pat Riley founded five years ago. Hundreds of soldiers have been recognized in brief pregame ceremonies at midcourt just before tip-off of every Miami home game since the program was born.

The Heat's move to have fans sing the national anthem is similar to Portland Timbers' fans singing the anthem during the Timbers' first home game against Chicago April 14. The Timbers received mostly positive reactions around the country.

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