Among the family of patriotic holidays, Independence Day?s ?younger sibling? ? Flag Day ? arrives on the calendar roughly three weeks before we celebrate our nation?s birth.
The June edition of the Library of Congress?s ?Wise Guide? launched today, just in time to salute the Stars and Stripes ? figuratively, if not literally. From the text:
Did you know that the current American flag was a result of a school project? Can you believe that the resulting grade on the project was only a B minus? In 1958, high school student Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio, was spurred on by his interest in politics and talk of Alaska and Hawaii becoming states to design a 50-star flag as a school project. His teacher, Stanley Pratt, gave him a B minus on the project, describing it as unoriginal. However, he would grant Heft a higher grade if Congress accepted the design. Thanks to the late congressman Walter Moeller, Heft earned his gold star when the design was accepted in 1960.
No, I didn?t know ? but I do now!
Happy Flag Day, everyone!
June 14, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Happy Flag Day!
June 22, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Very cool history lesson. Who wouldve known
July 4, 2007 at 4:26 am
Really? The American flag was made because of a school project? I didn’t know that! Cool! And to think that it just merited a B minus. I certainly think that it deserves more than just that. Robert G. Heft was sure lucky to have the Congress approve his design. It’s such an honor for him, especially since he was just a high school student at that time. I wonder if his teacher changed his grade, though. After all, the design was approved approximately two years after he submitted it in class.
November 4, 2007 at 10:21 pm
An interesting history lesson, especially being Hawaiian. (Yes, Hawaii is one of the 50 states…!) However, it still amazes me how little Hawaiian history we learn as US citizens. It also amazes me just how much of our US History comes from totally accidental occurrences like this one.
January 25, 2008 at 3:50 pm
As the designer of our Nations current flag, the flag I made in 1958 has taken me to all 50 states and 57 countries, promoting the country that I love. I followed a dream and turned that history class project into a history making event. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone believe in you. That very flag is now being sold to help me on medical bills and to establish educational funds for my little great nephews and great nieces.
My flag represents a great and grateful Nation.
God bless America
Robert G. Heft
P. O. Box 20404
Saginaw, MI 48602-0404
February 4, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Stanley PRatt was my great uncle, I didn’t know him well, but, he retired from teaching and then became a lawyer till he died at I think the age of 98.
February 5, 2010 at 6:20 pm
LOL! Stanley Pratt is my husband’s great uncle. I met him several times, but he did not tell this story on himself. We read it in a newspaper.