YouTube Singing Contest Focuses on American Flag

The American flag, sewn by Mary Pickersgill and others, was recently refurbished and is on display at the Smithsonian. The flag is the focus on a new YouTube contest.

The Smithsonian is generating some excitement around its housing of the American flag inspired by the national anthem with its first YouTube singing contest.

The singer in the winning video will be invited to perform the Star-Spangled Banner at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C, and at the Baltimore Orioles versus Atlanta Braves game in Baltimore on Flag Day, June 14.

Entries can be submitted through April 15. People can enter online. The contest can be followed on Twitter.

The winner, to be announced May 19, will be chosen by a panel of celebrities, Smithsonian judges and a representative from the Orioles.

Fifteen semi-finalists will be selected by April 17 based on vocal performance, originality, accuracy and popularity on YouTube. All semi-finalists will receive a signed copy of the book "The Star Spangled Banner: The Making of an American Icon," and their videos will be featured on the museum's Star-Spangled Banner Web site.

Smithsonian developed the contest in partnership with USA Weekend Magazine, which will provide the winner with a trip for two to Washington, D.C., including airfare, hotel accommodation for two nights, tickets and transportation to the game and $400 spending money.

"The Star-Spangled Banner is one of our nation's most treasured objects, a symbol of what this country stands for," said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum, in a statement. "We thought that this contest would be a fun way to dispel the notion that history is boring and engage people with their flag and their anthem."