50 FLAGS, 50 STATES, ONE UNIFIED VOICE AT THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL. Last night, the National Mall witnessed a powerful sight as the flags from every single state were marched across the stage. Then, Alexis Wilkins stepped up to the mic. With the U.S. Marine Band backing her, the Great American State Fair was officially set in motion. It’s a 16-day tribute to America’s 250th birthday, featuring 150 exhibits that span from the U.S. Capitol down to the Washington Monument, all under the glow of a 110-foot Ferris wheel lighting up the D.C. skyline. Yet, what most people didn’t realize at that moment was that the voice behind the anthem wasn’t some polished arena superstar. She’s a country artist born in Arkansas and grinding in Nashville, having shared stages with the likes of Chris Young and Lee Greenwood. She stepped onto that stage without taking a single dime in pay—she called it a “great honor.” As the military flyovers rumbled overhead, she delivered. The fair keeps rolling until July 10.
50 Flags, 50 States, One Voice on the National Mall Last night on the National Mall, the scene felt larger than a concert and quieter than a celebration. One by…