Representatives from MENC will judge the All-Star contestants and the winners will be announced in 30 days and posted on the project's Web site, located at www.thenationalanthemproject.org.

The National Anthem Project also has several interactive activities set up at the Salt Palace that teach about the historical significance of the anthem. The lyrics were penned by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. The poem was set to a tune attributed to John Stafford Smith, "To Anacreaon in Heaven," and became American's national anthem in 1931.

Jasmine Brennan of Kearns was helping people play a game during the event Thursday. The people had to unscramble the lines of the anthem.

"Actually, the kids do better than the adults," Brennan said. "This little girl just kicked her dad's butt and he was struggling."

Brennan is originally from Singapore and said she had to learn a lot about America's history — including the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner" — when she became a U.S. citizen.

"It's good for us to study some and know the history," she said. "I'm glad to know it."

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E-MAIL: nclemens@desnews.com