It's time to get out the vote — for the second New York Jets National Anthem Contest.
Three finalists have been selected from an impressive group that began the Anthem Contest process back in June. Now those finalists — Ebony Mack of Irvington, N.J., Samantha Dango of Cranford, N.J., and Meghann Carr of Morristown, N.J. — need your votes.
You can view their performances in the accompanying videos and then you can vote for your favorite singer, as often as you want, in our FanZone Poll box from now until the polls close at noon on Monday, Oct. 12.
We're looking to break the mark of 192,000 votes cast in our first Anthem Contest in 2007, won by Heather Kreuzman of Flushing, N.Y., who performed before the Jets' game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 9, 2007.
This year's contest began with the first round of contestants, representing all age groups from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, converging on the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on a rainy June 11 during Jets Week festivities. Their task that day was to perform any song their hearts desired. The judges heard rock songs, gospel music and even a whistled version of the Star Spangled Banner.
Fourteen were selected to participate in the contest's semifinal round, held before the Jets' opening preseason game against the St. Louis Rams at the Meadowlands. Each contestant was required to perform the National Anthem in 1½ minutes or less at the middle of the field using the stadium's public address system.
The semifinalists and our three finalists were chosen based on their tone of voice, strength of voice and their timing in singing the Anthem.
Now it's time for all you National Anthem aficionados to tell us who you want to hear sing the song this year. The voting booth will stay open 24/7 from now until Monday, Oct. 12 at noon. The winner will be announced on the afternoon of Oct. 9 and will perform the National Anthem before the Jets' home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 18, as part of Fan Appreciation Day festivities.
