Thursday 7 July 2016

By Adam Smith


Before 1927, Alaska did not have a flag. At the time, Alaska was still a territory, meaning that the federal government controlled Alaska and its citizens lacked voting representation in Congress. Since Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, Alaskans had flown only the U.S. flag.

The Alaska flag was officially adopted in 1959 by the Legislature of Alaska and it is in use ever since. The Flag of Alaska has an interesting history behind it that lends more color to the bright blue flag. The designer of the Alaska flag was a 13-year-old prodigy, Benny or John Ben Benson, who depicted 8 golden stars on a royal blue field.

The flag itself is one of simplicity but powerful meaning that it is hard to believe a child as young as John Bell could come up with it. But come up with it did and it has flown proudly over Alaska ever since.

At the time the flag was designed Alaska was not a state and would not become one until 1959 when it became the 49th. It was decided then that the Alaskan flag would be kept and it was officially adopted. The Alaskan flag simply consists of an open blue field that contains eight five-pointed golden stars.

Being part of the Ursa Major, the Big Dipper meant intense strength and the Pole or the North star symbolized Alaska, the prospective state of the Union. Benny's Alaska flag was an example of sheer simplicity, steeped in rich symbolism. Thus Benny was rewarded with a gold watch and some prize money for his brilliant idea and his flag was adopted as the Alaska state flag. The moving description of Benny's flag had also been incorporated into the flag song, the official song of the State.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior California flags being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported flags are cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods of printing do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flags made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of California flag for the future.




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