ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Singer Chris Daughtry got some historic help with the national anthem before the start of the Final Four.
The Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps went onto the court before Daughtry sang. Their presentation included a replica of a huge 15-star American flag that soldiers raised at the Maryland fort 200 years ago during the War of 1812.
The original flag raised Sept. 14, 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The flag used Saturday was carried onto the court by volunteers donning replica military uniforms from that period, and the fife and drum corps played.
Reproduction instruments are meticulously made like the originals from the hickory wood used in the drums to the special key of “C’’ in the fifes.
- Stephen Hawkins - https://twitter.com/hawkaptexas
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NCAA Finals Watch follows the Final Four games and all the activities surrounding the event as seen by journalists from The Associated Press in North Texas - from the big stadium in Arlington where the games will be played to downtown Dallas. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.
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