His name was Benny Benson. This kid of Swedish and Eskimo origin had had a terrible childhood in the 1920s, his mother had died of pneumonia and in the process, the fire in his house had forced his father to place him and his brothers in a orphanage. It is in the school where he goes, that he decides to take part in quite an amazing contest…
Alaska where Benny lives is not yet an American state, but only a territory repurchased from the Russians in 1867 for the equivalent of 120 million current dollars. His government, thinking that having an official flag would help to become a real state, then decided to organize a national competition to create it. The principle is simple: draw the flag yourself before submitting it to a jury. 700 schoolchildren participate, including Benny Benson and it is his drawing that is retained. Incredible but true, his sketch becomes the official flag of Alaska.
The boy had chosen blue color to recall the sky of Alaska, but also forget-me-not, which is the floral emblem of the country. Drawing inspiration from the sky at night in the big North, he had also drawn the seven saucepan-shaped stars that form the Great Bear, strength symbol. And an eighth star, bigger, the North Star which means a better future for Alaska. Benny Benson pocketed 1,000 dollars but above all, he entered the history of the United States, and even of the world by being the youngest person to design an official flag. Inaugurated in July 1927, this will not prevent Alaska from waiting 32 years to finally become the 49th American state. Like what, that, unlike the flag, it was not child’s play!
>> Oh yeah? From Monday to Friday, Florian Gazan responds in one minute to all the essential, existential, sometimes completely absurd questions that cross your mind. Very useful or totally useless knowledge to shine in society, absolutely incredible anecdotes to share, amazing stories to tell. And each time, you will say to yourself “Ah yeah?”. An RTL Originals podcast.
2023-06-08 09:00:00
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