Even before the union of independent states was consummated and became the United States of America (USA), each of the participating states had already an existing state flag? Yes, that is precisely true and the creation of the Stars Spangled Banner superseded all state flags and was adopted as the official national flag. Thus when flags are displayed, the state flags are placed lower than the national tricolor.
In the case of
Alaska, the state flag was a product of a statewide contest among grade seven to twelve students in 1926. The winning entry was designed by a thirteen year old - Benny Benson. The design was actually a composition of eight gold stars on a blue background, it represents the Big Dipper and the more visible North Star. And in 1927 the State of Alaska legislators adopted the design as the official flag of the territory of Alaska. Likewise later the framers of the Alaska constitution also placed their stamp of approval making it the official flag of the State of Alaska.
To complete the patriotic symbol of the people of Alaska, Marie Drake a long time employee of the Department of Education penned the lyrics of the "Alaska's Flag" which first appeared as a poem in 1935. It was Elinor Dusenbury wife of the commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933 to 1936 who composed the melody for the "Alaska's Flag". The inclusion of "Alaska's Flag" as the official song of the territory was made by the legislature in 1955.
Alaska officially joined the union and became one of the states of the United States in 1959.
by:
The Flagman
