Recognized as the most durable of all flag fabrics, our Poly-Max™ State Flags are skillfully crafted of 2-ply 100% polyester bunting. Its open weave construction reduces wind resistance, therefore lessening abrasion and increasing flag life. Resists wear to wind, dirt and moisture and is ideal for heavy use.
History and symbolism of the Alaska State Flag
The Alaska state flag was designed by a 13yr old schoolboy and orphan named Benny Benson more than 30yrs before Alaska was recognized as a state. Young Benny’s flag was one of 700 entries in the event, a territorial contest sponsored by the American Legion’s Alaska department. The young man’s drawing that would become the Alaska state flag featured eight gold stars on a dark blue background, the largest of which was the North Star. The remaining seven gold stars depicted the Big Dipper.
The flag of Alaska was rife with territorial symbolism. Benny Benson explained that the inspiration for his flag of Alaska design was the constellation he looked for before going to sleep each night in the Jesse Lee Home for Children. The blue, he explained, was for the Forget-Me-Not, an Alaskan flower. The Big Dipper constellation was in honor of the Great Bear, symbolizing strength. The north star that adorned the upper right of his Alaska flag was meant to indicate Alaska as the future most northerly state.
Benny Benson was rewarded for his winning Alaska flag design with a $1,000 prize and an engraved watch. The Alaskan Legislative body adopted Benny’s design as the official flag for the Territory of Alaska on May 2, 1927. The inaugural flight of Benny’s flag, made of silk and appliquéd gold stars, occurred shortly after on July 9, 1927. Prior to that day the flags typically flown in Alaska had been the American flag and several versions of the Russian-American Company flag. When Alaska achieved statehood in 1959 this striking flag was made the official state flag.
