200th anniversary of the starspangled banner with speeches and a variety of performances. The program ends with the simultaneous singing of the National Anthem. This event is about an hour and a half. How is everybody doing today . Pretty good. I want to welcome you all to my name is xavier. Today, we are celebrating our national and International Flag day singalong for the 200th anniversary of our starspangled banner. [applause] years ago this00 year, Francis Scott key wrote the words to a poem in the defense of fort mchenry and set it to a british tune. Together, they form our National Anthem, the starspangled banner. Here we explore americas history through collections, research, and public outreach. We help people understand the past to better make sense of the present and to shape a more humane future. We are hoping that our program will be able to do much of that by bringing the nation together around our National Anthem. By the way, we are not just bringing to the people together here on the National Mall but also all over our country and world. I would like to send a special welcome to our streaming audience who is watching us via youtube and espn three. Espn 3. It is very appropriate that our opening conductor is well known for bringing together singers from all over the world with his infamous and very welldone virtual choir project. I would like you all to join me in thanking grammywinning composer mr. Eric whitaker. [applause] also, let me introduce you all to todays choir. I got to tell you these guys are great and i have a lot of fun with them earlier today at rehearsal. They are organized by the john f. Kennedy center for performing america, and classical movement. 400 voices from 45 states age nine to 81. Lets give them a hand. [applause] would also like to bank our men and women we would also like to thank our men and women of the United States air force. Please give them a hand. [applause] also, we would like to thank the National Park service. Without them we wouldnt have this beautiful National Mall towards which to orient our performance. At park Service Sites across the country, folks are watching this online. Please recognize them. [applause] you guys are in for some really good performances today. They were made possible by our friends at please give them a big hand. [applause] all right. Kick off thiss event, i would like to welcome our esteemed first speaker. Please welcome the 12th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, dr. Wayne clough. [applause] good afternoon. Reat day enjoying it . Welcome to the Smithsonians National museum of american. Istory, your museum thank you for coming to help us celebrate the grand 200th anniversary of one of our nations most iconic objects, the starspangled banner. Today, on flag day, we celebrate in word, song, and performance. Today, we lift every voice and sing. I want to thank the many talented performers who are here with us today, especially this gifted choir behind me, composed of singers from sea to shining sea. Lets give them a hand. [applause] and thanks also to the u. S. Air force concert band who represent our brave men and women serving around the world. Lets give them applause. [applause] many thanks to our undersecretary for history, art, and culture, the Deputy Director of this museum, and all my colleagues who are participating and helped us organize this wonderful event. Andks go to our friends supporters, especially our friends of the National Park service, the john f. Kennedy center for the performing arts, tusk, and those who worked so hard to make this day special for all of us. The starspangled banner was born in baltimore. We are honored to welcome the former mayor of baltimore and Current Governor of the great state of maryland, the honorable Martin Omalley. He will be speaking shortly. As well as the director of the Maryland Historical society. We thank both of them for the loan of the Francis Scott key original manuscript, displayed today here with the flag for the first time in our history. Sang singer Renee Fleming the gal that she wore while singing the National Anthem during the super bowl is also on display. Everyday, millions of flags fly in big cities and small towns, like the one where i came from, all across our nation. They hang on front porches and storefronts, schools and military bases, museums, cities, state and federal buildings, small children carry them in big parades. I have a flag that was carried in outer space by a friend of mine who was an astronaut. Military men and women carry them into battle. They mark the graves of the following and at all of the National Cemeteries and normandy cemetery in france. Itsalute our flag and what means. We salute those who defend it and those who live up to it. Everything those flags stand for everywhere is symbolized by one flight here, and that is the starspangled banner. It is here. We at the smithsonian dont own it. You own it, the American People. We did take we take care of it and we have for more than a century. We preserve it and displayed for the American People and visitors from around the world who seek to understand our country, culture, and its great history. As one of our curators here once said, there is an accurate perception that we are, forever, that we will care for an object eternally. This is a sacred trust with the smithsonian we at this missoni and take seriously because we owe it to the American People. We tell americas story, the stories of courage, struggle, sacrifice, triumph. Our scholars and experts use the latest technology and techniques to keep the slide alive for generations to come, so your children and your childrens children can learn the lessons it teaches all of us. You can see it here today. You can visit any time online. Please do. It is your flag. It is part of the history and fabric of our country. For even more information on this important time in our history, please explore our online exhibition from our , 1812,l portrait gallery the nation emerges. Tonight at 9 00 p. M. On the smithsonian channel, dont miss out on the starspangled story battle for america. With insight from curators from this museum. Historian David Mccullough once wrote, history shows us how to behave. History teaches and reinforces what we believe in, what we stand for, what we ought to be willing to stand up for. History is or should be the , notck of a trick is in the chest pounding kind of patriotism but the real thing, love of country. Is when his words stand the test of time. Thank you for being with us today and enjoy. [applause] thank you very much, mr. Secretary. Thanks to the work of secretary clough and many others, the smithsonian is using this opportunity, this wonderful celebration, to bring the nation together. Air are a lot of people helping us out with this celebration, national partners, organizations such as the aarp, the veterans of foreign wars. There really are too many others to name, in 30 states and two countries, what hosting 86 watch parties, many of them posted also by some of our 200 Smithsonian Institution affiliates. Macysthat, at 600 Stores Across the country, people will be joining us to sing along. From sumner, washington, to the home of the rhubarb pie, to iraq , there could be folks all around the globe singing with us today at four clock p. M. I want to thank all of them for joining us. I hope you guys are ready. Are you . Are you hired tired of hearing me talk . I think its time for another performance. I would like to do that by welcoming again our choir and also welcoming the United States air force band and Singing Sergeants to perform the battle hymn of the republic, commanded and conducted by colonel larry h. Lang. [applause] mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword his truth is marching on i have seen him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps they have building him an altar in the evening dews and damps i can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps his day is marching on i have read the fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel as ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal let the hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, since god is marching on glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah his truth is marching on since god is marching on he has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat he is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgement seat oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him be jubliant, my feet be jubilant, my feet our god is marching on glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah our god is marching on in the beauty of the lilies, christ was born across the sea with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me as he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free let us live to make men free while god is marching on glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah my god is marching on glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah our god is marching on on on god is marching [applause] that was great, everyone. Thanks a lot. Much like the words of the battle hymn, the starspangled banner has lyrics that inspire us all. We would like you to take attorney and joining in that inspiration. I know that there are people watching us all over the country and all over the world and there are lots of you here watching. Many of you will be taking lots of pictures and video of this event and of your various watch parties. We would like you to share those photos and videos with us online. While you are there, you can also check out our interactive banner yet waves timeline. It features artists like train and angie johnson. All of these artists have worked to craft their own special theon of the start starspangled banner in celebration of this occasion. These make sure you check it out. It is very easy to do. All the instrumentation information is on our website, anthe mforamerica. Smithsonian. Com. Many of our artists come from longstanding traditions in american music. Our next performer fits with that tradition. She is part of the historic legacy of the carter family. She has the bloodline of legends such as mother Maybelle Carter and june carter cash. After nearly a century of their first recordings, she makes sure that first circle that circle remains unbroken. Please welcome recording artist carlene carter. Thank you. Hi. Iss is a little song that about what it was like for me growing up as a little girl and traveling around with mother maybelle and the carter sisters. In my grandmas house her children would sing ging and laughter ringing i was little but i was the biggest hit kid i wanted to do what the grownups did in a big, shiny car wed head down the road sing for the miners who brought out the coal at times, slept on the floorboards cold my little sister, the wildwood rose and if i could change a thing in this world i go back to the days with my grandma in her curls singing sweet and low rosehe wildwood wed be way down by the road by the break of dawn biscuits and gravy and a truck stop song in a world all fine saw in the Rearview Mirror dmaet a wink from my gran could change a thing in this world i go back to the days of grandma in her curls singing sweet and low rosee and the wildwood oh, ill always remember the day that she died my daddy called me and he started to cry i rode on an airplane with all of my pain my tears would not stop sangood in a circle and unbrokencircle be by and by, lord by and by theres a better on the way in the sky, lord, in the sky yall want to sing it with me . Will the circle be unbroken by and by, lord by and by wayes a better on the in the sky, lord in the sky in the sky, lord n the sky thank you, all, it was an honor to be here. Lets have a great flag day. [applause] [orchestra playing simple gifts] tis a gift to be simple tis a gift to be sweet tis a gift to come down where we ought to be and when we find ourselves in place twill be in the valley of love and delight where truth and liberty are gained ashamedant be wil urn wil l will be our delight tis a gift to be simple,tis [singingbe free in the rounds] its a gift to be simple, its a gift to be free. [applause] we want to thank the United States air force band and Singing Sergeants for that special arrangement of the gifts. Une, simple lets give them a hand. [applause] for those of you here in washington, if you are out on the mall, you might see or probably have seen some of our many volunteers working together to help give people information, get them were they need to go and direct them to the opening of armies him, where you can go and. I really want to recognize them for coming forward and helping us with this wonderful event. Please give them a big hand. [applause] they have a stylized version of stripes flag on their shirt. That design was done by the martin agency. I would like to recognize them as well as well as their president , john adams, who is a member of the board here at the americaneasy him of history National Museum of american history. [applause] the National Museum of american history, we are the stewards of americas history. And also of the starspangled banner flag which is sometimes known as the great garrison flag. Some of you are looking at me a little strange, but you heard my words correctly. The flag sung about in the starspangled banner is right behind me in the building can be. There are people as we speak looking at it in an exhibition and when we are done here, you can take the opportunity to go to our open entrance, go inside the museum, see the collections we have on display but also see that starspangled banner flag, the flag that they talk about in our National Anthem. When Francis Scott key saw that flag flying 200 years ago he was inspired to hand write a poem in a manuscript and believe it or not, that manuscript is also on display in this building inside the National Museum of american history. 1814 manuscript of our National Anthem. The stewards are the Maryland Historical society. Now i would like to introduce you all to the president and ceo of the Maryland Historical society, he is a singular historian and interpreter and is largely due to his efforts that the manuscript and the flag have been brought together for the first time in 200 years will stop probably closer than they have ever been before. Welcoming him. In [applause] how exciting it is to be here amongst all of this Great American music, particularly the legendary carter family. It is very exciting. Good afternoon, everyone. Day, thisrful lori is flag day, we are honored to be sharing our starspangled banner manuscript written by Francis Scott key on september 16th, 1814. Today, as these two american icons, the giant flag and a tiny document are joined for the very first time, i have a short story to tell you. No one in baltimore new what to onect when dawn broke september 14, 1814. The night had been stormy, violent, and mean bridge shift, and devastation had exposinging 200 pound bombs at fort mchenry, screaming rockets were lighting up the gloomy darkness. The americans were returning fire from gunmen batteries lining the shore. It had been quite a show for baltimore knows he cannot noisy, terrifying and hypnotic. Within range, soldier or private citizen was watching thank chesley from roof and hilltop alike. The future of baltimore and perhaps the young United States republic itself are hanging in the balance. Ever since 1812, when the u. S. Had declared war against the wars the worlds strongest nation, the port of baltimore and chesapeake aa community had been prime targets. In the hot and stormy summer of 1814, nightmares came true. And the whiteol house went up in flames. The u. S. Residents fled for his life from the invading redcoats and now, it was baltimore posture baltimores turn. They said they would show no quarter when they entered the city. Privateers had been praying on enemy merchant ships throughout the entire war. The city would be left in ruins if the invaders succeeded. Two days earlier, dust wrote fighting at northpoint killed a british general and faced with 15,000 entrenched and determined , theders with 100 cans enemy land attack had already failed. , guardingfort mchenry the harbor, fall under the fierce naval bombardment . Would read cobre and speak in baltimore streets with earning torches . First by curiosity and hope, thousands of lie thousands of eyes appeared at the point of land in distance and cheers started swelling up to the harbor. The flag was still there. One volunteer summed up the many tears and joy we were filled with exultation at beholding the Stars Stripes, still floating in the breeze. Another witness watched from the british fleet where he was detained after negotiating the release of prisoners under a flag of truce will stop Francis Scott key, a successful lawyer in the new National Capital was also a gentleman poet. Within two days, he had put pen to paper, vividly describing and for versus the well of emotions everyone felt that this very unlikely victory. Set to a popular club song called the defense of fort up byy it was picked newspapers all over america and became the starspangled banner within a month. They humbled mr. T had a simple explanation for his achievement in that hour of deliverance and joyful triumph, the heart spoke. Does not such a country and defenders of their country deserve a song . That song, forever identified with the giant like that inspired it, remain popular, especially during public ceremonies. In 1931, more than a century after the war that inspired it, president Herbert Hoover signed the bill that made it our national and. Celebratinge are the winding 200 year journey that has brought a tiny piece of a bird and a giant flag together for the very first time. Theelebrate the families of 1814 defenders saved these precious icons in their baltimore homes throughout the 19th century. The flag was displayed hanging on buildings, souvenir pieces were snipped off and shared with honored guests. The manuscript was probably displayed in a wall in the baltimore parlor of the we celebrate the institutions in baltimore and washington that have conserved, displayed, and are printed flag and document dropped 20 century. After more than a century, the flag is still the centerpiece of our National Museum devoted to americas memory. At the Maryland Historical society in baltimore, our document is the focus of an 1812 exhibit that is second to none. And we celebrate mr. Keyes timeless words for verses that not only discover the garrison flag has survive the chaos of battle, but described those Stars Stripes as similar descend victory for a new nation that aspires to be the land of the free and home of the brave. Busye start of this starspangled banner summer aimed at a bicentennial baltimore in september, the 170yearold Maryland Historical society founded in part by the 1814 defenders themselves, is very proud to share this special moment with the smithsonian, the National Capital, and the entire nation. Take time out during the next two weeks. Most two of americas important icons together for the first time here in the National Museum of americas history beautiful flag chamber. You will discover it is a onceinalifetime experience. Inc. You very much. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you very much. I know we have a lot of people turning us all across the nation and all across the world via our webcast, but i want to dig just a little moment to Say Something to some of the folks we have year. First off, comedy people live in this area . [applause] get,s all im going to really . How many people are natives of the washington dc area . [applause] yes, yes, yes. We write year in the Nations Capital have some of our own regional favorites and local styles. And we certainly appreciate the starspangled banner. We have a bit of a treat for you today because we have a group with local connections, from right up the road in potomac, maryland. Anybody from potomac . Weve got a couple of people. And a bonus for you guys they are smithsonian folkways recording label artists. Supportsan full ways Cultural Diversity and increased understanding through sound. I think youre going to love the sound these guys make all stop and have been featured in concerts on television, radio and even on the National Mall during the american roots fourth of july celebration. I know you are going to love them. Warner williams and jason mauer are a little bit of blues. Dont send no dr. Thomas dr. Wont do me no good me pray for south, lookt train for my close back home on next train south, look for my close back home trouble osan no [applause] when i get the blues, honey, get me a rocking chair gun a rock, mama, away from here bad the blues so i love to hear my baby, name i love to hear my baby, my name the blues aint nothing but a poor man feeling bad thats the worst old feeling i believe i ever had harry, mama, bring my lollipop hurry, mama and bring my lollipop [applause] thank you. Much, jill and. Gentlemen. U so much, [applause] the starspangled banner starspangled banner immortalize the bombardment at fort mchenry 200 years ago. We have citizens joining us online today, right there and some of them are from fort mchenry, the actual site, which is a National Park services site. We hope you guys are having as much fun there as we are here. The next speaker actually represents the people baltimore. First as the citys mayor, and in his second term as governor of governor of mail governor of maryland. To the council by president barack obama. It is my privilege to introduce to you today the honorable governor Martin Omalley. [applause] thank you, very much. My name is Martin Omalley and im the governor of maryland. Its a great honor to be with you all today on behalf of the people of maryland. People do in both of our country wars of independence laid such a central role, not only geographically, not only militarily, but also spiritually , and helping us to realize and define for ourselves what it meant to be an american. In one of the more poignant stories told of the commissioning of our giant , when majord banner armistead and sam smith went to mary pinker skills home to commission this huge, huge flag, it was sewn together not only by mary pinkers gill and her daughters but a young 13yearold africanamerican indenture to servant girl. Picture that. Black hands, white hands, sewing together the Stars Stripes. The threadmit to you that held up flag together and then is the thread that holds it together now and it is the threat of human dig. Of neighbors helping ebers, of neighbors believing in neighbors , and believing in what we could accomplish together. One out of five of the defenders of baltimore when that shock and awe force turned on our city, one of the five vendors were africanamerican citizens of a still as yet very imperfect country. 50 of the defenders of baltimore were immigrants or the sons and daughters of immigrants. But together, without regard to class or race, they dug trenches around our city, they held their ground, they defended place, our place, the United States. Just as the flag was made stronger by the individual threads, so, too, is our country today made stronger by the individual threads of each of our stories. Remind your children in this i centennial year when we are the first iteration of americans who have experienced attacks on the continental United States. We are the first iteration of americans to felt what it was like to have our government buildings attacked will stop remind your children that freedom is not free and our countrys greatness is found in one another. That is what the starspangled banner is all about all stop that is what this commemoration is about, to tell that story and lift every voice and sing. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much, honorable l he, for those words. When Francis Scott key wrote his famous words, over the land of the free, many People Living in the land had no freedom. Rights andowards came tome to sit symbolize the american spirit for generations of people and continue to today. John rhodamined johnson immortalize this struggle in a very special song that has come to be associated with the africanamerican civil rights movement, but whose lyrics speak to folks of all different cultures and backgrounds, much like the words of our National Anthem, the starspangled banner. Please welcome at this time, the composer and conductor, visionary images of in music education, the founder of the National Awardwinning young peoples chorus. They won the nations highest honor for use programs, the National Humanities use program award. They were presented with this reward with this award by michelle obama. Hes also a macarthur genius. Blackyour to conduct the National Anthem, lift every voice and sing. [applause] lift every voice and saying lift every voice and seeing, ring with the harmonies of liberty. , high asejoicing rise the listening skies, let it resounds as loud as the rolling sea bidder the chastening rod felt in the days of hope, hope unborn had died god of our weary years, god of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way; thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our god, where we met thee, lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to our god, true to our native land oh amen [applause] you, everyone. It is truly great to come together in song. Here at the National Museum of american history, we have our own rich is a go collection. Princes guitar. Tito puentes drums. Several stradivarius strings in our collection. Those represent all genres and eras of music. If you are going to collect and interpret american music, you have to have jazz. So what i would like to do for you all today is introduce our orchestra. They are going to help us celebrate the year 1931. This is a very important year, not just because jazz was king with venues like the cotton club, with bandleaders like Duke Ellington and others, but also because 1931 is the year that banner wased adopted as our National Anthem. Do not say you did not learn anything from this program. Jazzre are the smithsonian masterworks orchestra under the artistic direction of charlie on. Charlie young. Performance for you i just classic, cab calloways minnie the moocher. [piano solo] [horns join] n [piano solo] solo] join] [piano joins] [horns join] [applause] [theme from west side story playing] [applause] ranciscont to thank fa nunez for conducting. He is amazing. We appreciate him coming. Please give them another hand, if you will. Yes. Guys, we have some brave folks up here on the stage who have been braving this hot sun this whole time. Our choir is wonderful. Please give them another hand. Was mambo from west side andy, featuring our choir, also featuring the United States air force band. Yes, please. [applause] today the members of the United States air force band and Singing Sergeants are representing all the men and women of the armed forces who defend our flag. Do we have any veterans or military personnel here today and even watching us . Andyou plaseesease stand recognize them with a hand . For your service and selfless sacrifice, we want to appreciate that and to pay tribute to all of our veterans, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, here is Technical SergeantDaniel Anderson and band performing tion full measure of devo followed by God Bless America. In the long and dark history of america there are names that shine light begins in th like beacons in the night. The patriots who gave us meaning. The lamp ofnd freedom burning bright historyong and honored of america there are those who pay the last and final price ahh upon by chance for this circumstance ultimate sacrifice a grateful nation bows its head in sorrow hanks for guaranteeing our tomorrow. [drums] the last full measure of devotion thats what they gave to the cause the last full measure of devotion and though they cannot give herar our applause we honor them forever tribute to their lives the last full measure of devotion beyond the call of duty the last full measure of devotion serveave themselves to and highly resolved and highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain the last full measure of devotion wered the call of duty their deeds the last full measure of devotion themselves to serve th e greater need and for those who did survive and came back alive they join in praise of comrades who were slain and highly resolved most hihglghly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain in vain [applause] [drum roll america playing] while the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us swear allegiance to a land thats free, let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer God Bless America land that i love stand beside her, and guide her thru the night with a light from above from the mountains, to the prairies to the oceans, white with foam God Bless America, my Home Sweet HomeGod Bless America land that i love stand beside her and guide her thru the night with a light from above from the mountains, to the prairies to the oceans, white with foam God Bless America, my Home Sweet HomeGod Bless America, my Home Sweet Home [applause] all right, everyone. Our National Singalong is almost here. We are minutes away. I would like to introduce you to our next guest. She was adopted by a family by woodstock but born in romania. An accomplished member of rock n roll. I understand she has a brother on the Capitol Police force in washington dc here to prove the words of woody guthries this land is your land, please welcome kristen e capilino. This land is your land this land is my land california to the New York Island from the redwood forests to the gulf stream waters this land was mdade for you and me [rock guitar] as i walked out the ribbon of highway. I saw above me the endless skyway i saw below me that Golden Valley this land was made for you and me solo]r this land is your land this land is my land from california to the New York Island from redwood forests waterfstream this land was made for you and me yeah [applause] thank you whoo thank you. To expresse bidders, guests and performers to join me on stage because it is just about the time for us to sing together. 200 years ago when the british marched on baltimore, francis got key, a lawyer sent to negotiate a prisoner exchange, was on the ship and witnessed that attack, the bombardment of fort mchenry. Imagine how ms. Were he turned to joy in the morning when the smoke began to clear and high above the 40s saw the red, white and blue of the flag waving strongly declaring the young nation was still standing. I would like to invite all of our speakers as well as all of you here and everyone watching online and on or of those who have served our country. Teachers,officials, doctors, tradesmen, friends, parents, children, everyone who appreciates the freedom on which we stand. To join in song this flag day for the 200th year of its existence. Please stand and sing with me the United StatesNational Anthem, the starspangled banner. Oh, say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . [applause] we all wish the starspangled banner a happy 200th birthday. Watching thank you all on our western and all of you here today, and our partners here today. Thes give these conductors, men and women of the United States air force that they can. A big hand. As well as the Smithsonian Institution, our partners in washington dc and all across the country, please make sure to cleanur National Mall by disposing of trash in the appropriate places. Again, my name is xavier. I thank