A compelling, uniquely American story told in the Fox Nation series "Crazy American History with Eric Shawn" centers on Bob Heft, a teenager who claimed to have designed the current 50-star United States flag. Heft, from Lancaster, Ohio, stated he sewed his flag as part of a high school history project in 1959 and sent it to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Heft's correspondence with White House officials indicated his belief that his design was chosen when Hawaii prepared to become the 50th state. A letter from Eisenhower's chief of staff, Wilton B. Persons, thanked Heft, and Heft himself pressed his claim in subsequent exchanges. "I made and flew the first 50-star flag in the United States," Heft wrote, asserting, "The flag was first flown March 7, 1959, and there are none recorded before this date."
Heft, who died in 2009, spent much of his life sharing his story with students, veterans, and reporters. His claim is supported by evidence that he did create a 50-star flag before its official adoption. This flag was reportedly flown over at least 40 state capitol buildings between 1960 and 1962, including those in New York, California, and Pennsylvania. For instance, it flew over the Texas state capitol in Austin for five hours on Oct. 5, 1960, though rain and high winds reportedly cut the display short. Ohio Governor Michael DiSalle wrote to Heft, verifying that his was the first 50-star flag displayed on Ohio property. [
] The Ohio Historical Society also honored Heft at his high school with a marker stating, "The design for the fifty-star flag was born here at Lancaster High School." [
] The narrative questions whether Heft was truly the first or if officials were perhaps unaware of other designs during the selection process. [
] The story is presented as a testament to a teenager's lifelong dedication to the American flag. [
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