The 49 Star Flag
49-Star Flag: On January 3rd,1959 Alaska was formally granted
statehood placing the 49th star on our Flag.Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated
January 3, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of
seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
The first 49-star flag was made in the Army Quartermaster Depot at Philadelphia, and was used
in the White House ceremony when
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953-1961) signed the proclamation admitting
Alaska to the Union. Subsequently, this flag was carried to Philadelphia
by Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania, who gave it to the mayor of Philadelphia to
raise over Independence Hall on July 4th, 1959. After these ceremonies Scott
gave the flag to his colleague, Senator Earnest Gruening of Alaska, who, in turn,
delivered it to Governor William A. Eagan to be flown over the state capitol
at Juneau. This flag was later given to the Alaskan State Mueseum for preservation.
The 49-Star flag was official for only one year,
until July 4, 1960, when Hawaii achieved its Statehood and the
50-Star flag
was born.
President Eisenhower
was the only President to serve under this flag.
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