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Benny Benson (1913)close

As a 13 year old in 1926, Benny designed the territorial flag for Alaska. Benny was born in Chignik, Alaska and grew up in Unalaska, Alaska. He won the flag contest for students in grades 7 through 12 from across the territory. The legislature later voted that Benny's flag was to be retained after Alaska achieved statehood in 1959. His own description of the elements he included in the flag read: "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear--symbolizing strength."

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