In 1926, Alaska was trying to be accepted into the Union. Alaskan members of the American Legion decided to hold a contest in public schools for the territory's flag design. The winning design was submitted by Benny Benson, a 13-year old orphan from the Jesse Lee Mission Home of Seward, Alaska. He described his sketch:
"The blue is for the Alaskan sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly of the Union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear-symbolizing strength. [Great Bear is another name for the constellation that includes the Big Dipper.]"
On June 30, 1958, the U.S. Congress voted Alaska its statehood.
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State Flag of Alaska
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