Today, it is probably the most recognized flag in the whole world. In 1958, it got only a B- in junior-year history class.
Each new flag has a very careful design, and the arrangement of the symbols and colors must be precise and meaningful. And for the American flag we know today, that arrangement was designed by a high schooler!
It was 1958, and America only contained 48 United States. The flag at that time featured six rows of eight stars. Bob Heft’s history teacher assigned a class project where each student had to bring in something they made. Having been “inspired by the Betsy Ross story,” and hearing rumblings that Alaska and Hawaii could both soon gain statehood, Heft decided to make a 50-star flag. So he made some adjustments to his parents’ 48-star flag, brought it in, and triumphantly placed it on his teacher’s desk.
Seeing 50 starts on the flag the teacher was not impressed. Believing that Heft does not even know how many states are there in the US, gave the boy a B – in his project. Heft protested the low grade and the teacher made a deal that at the time seemed ridiculous: if he Heft could get his flag accepted in Washington, then the teacher would change his grade. And a deal it was!
Bob Heft, then a high schooler, spend two years making calls and writing letters to the White House. In the meantime, Alaska and Hawai officially became States within the USA, thus increasing the number of states at 50 (exactly the number of stars in Heft`s flag design). One day, President Eisenhower called Bob Heft to tell him that his flag design had been chosen out of over a thousand. On July 4th, 1960, Heft went to the White House to see his school project design become the official American flag. In 2007, the 50-star flag became the longest-running U.S. flag. Of course, his grade got updated to A.
Today the American flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red, alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union.
Color Symbolism
- Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor.
- White symbolizes Purity and Innocence.
- Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
And here`s a photo of Bob Heft, the designer of American Flag, who died in December 2009 at the age of 68.
Sources: Reader`s Digest, Grand New Flag, Story Corps
