>> we estimate that amelia fowler when she first preserved it put about 17.000000 stitches in, each one had to be put in one at a time, clipped and removed from the flag much we had a structural engineer discuss with us how many stitches were necessary and he thought maybe one in 1,000 were necessary. so if you notice today there's a lot less stitching on the flag, which lets you appreciate what's left of the flag in much greater detail. there's been 200 years of caring for this flag since it was first made in 1813, and all of that shows on the surface of the flag. >> it was a truly unique experience while we were conserving the flag because it was on public view the whole time. visitors were invited to come and watch us work. it was a very gratifying experience too because what we found is almost everybody who came to the museum did want -- didn't want to see the flag, didn't want to see us work, on the flag. there were a lot of heart warming moments along the buy. one day a family of three generations came in. the older gentleman looked to be about a world war ii generation age, and a