Last modified: 2015-05-09 by rick wyatt
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image by Clay Moss, 1 February 2007
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In 1959, one star was added, representing Alaska, bringing the total number of stars to 49. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998
This flag flew from 4 July, 1959, to 3 July, 1960. The 49 star series became official when Alaska was admitted to the Union.
Clay Moss, 1 February 2007
Although the 49 star flag first became valid at 4 July 1959, it apparently was prepared beforehand, in 1958, and was made public as soon as the proclamation was signed on 2 January 1959:
image by Clay Moss, 1 February 2007
image by Clay Moss, 27 February 2007
A 4x6 foot version of us~49-2 hung on the wall in the church room where my Boy Scout troop met. Over the years, I stared and stared at this flag knowing something wasn't quite right with it. It looked like every other "48" star flag
that was out there, but I just couldn't put my finger on the problem. Then one day during a very dull meeting, I looked away from the speaker and stared at the flag in boredom. "EUREKA! There it is! 49 stars and all!" I thought to myself. I was so absorbed in the moment, that I started laughing out loud. This got me in a bit of trouble as the speaker was talking on the subject of respect.
I have always wondered what happened to that flag, and have also wondered who made it and when. I suspect that they were anticipating the admission of Alaska to the union and made the flag before the "official" version was introduced.
Clay Moss, 27 February 2007