<P> Of these proposals , one created by 17 - year - old Robert G. Heft in 1958 as a school project received the most publicity . His mother was a seamstress , but refused to do any of the work for him . He originally received a B -- for the project . After discussing the grade with his teacher , it was agreed ( somewhat jokingly ) that if the flag was accepted by Congress , the grade would be reconsidered . Heft 's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the Union in 1959 . According to Heft , his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an A for the project . The 49 - and 50 - star flags were each flown for the first time at Fort McHenry on Independence Day , in 1959 and 1960 respectively . </P>
<P> Of these proposals , one created by 17 - year - old Robert G. Heft in 1958 as a school project received the most publicity . His mother was a seamstress , but refused to do any of the work for him . He originally received a B -- for the project . After discussing the grade with his teacher , it was agreed ( somewhat jokingly ) that if the flag was accepted by Congress , the grade would be reconsidered . Heft 's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the Union in 1959 . According to Heft , his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an A for the project . The 49 - and 50 - star flags were each flown for the first time at Fort McHenry on Independence Day , in 1959 and 1960 respectively . </P>
where was the 50 star flag first flown
where was the 50 star flag first flown
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry