Flag Day | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

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By ABC30

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Brent Glass with Smithsonian National Museum of American History said, "We need to employ new techniques/to attract young people who I think have a hunger to understand how we came to be the country that we are today."

Some, who posted on line their renditions of the national anthem, dressed the part. Others jazzed it up a bit. But nearly 900 people did, inspired by the star spangled banner."

Thread bare in places, the Star Spangled Banner has survived nearly 2 centuries of battles: This is the actual flag Francis Scott Key saw flying over Fort McHenry. It inspired him to write the poem that eventually became the national anthem.

Brent Glass with Smithsonian National Museum Of American History said, "Americans have a feeling about the flag as a symbol to express themselves as a means of expression and then the national anthem is a way of amplifying that expression."

The competition narrowed to 15 semi-finalists based on YouTube popularity, vocal skill, originality, and accuracy of lyrics.

With nothing but a white wall for a background, and her voice, Jordan Shelton from Colorado won, using new media to enter the on-line competition, but inspired by the timeless values symbolized by the flag.