49- and 50-star unions thumb|A U.S. flag with gold fringe and a gold eagle on top of the flag pole When Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood in the 1950s, more than 1,500 designs were submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although some were 49-star versions, the vast majority were 50-star proposals. At least three of these designs were identical to the present design of the 50-star flag.These designs are in the Eisenhower Presidential Archives in Abilene, Kansas. Only a small fraction of them have ever been published. At the time, credit was given by the executive department to the United States Army Institute of Heraldry for the design. The 49- and 50-star flags were each flown for the first time at Fort McHenry on Independence Day, in 1959 and 1960 respectively. A popular myth is that an Ohio teenager and later mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, named Robert G. Heft had designed the 50-star flag, but this was debunked by Alec Nevala-Lee in his investigative article "False Flag" on June 30, 2022. Before the publication of said article the myth had been cited as fact in numerous sources, including Wikipedia and the Smithsonian Institution website.
49- and 50-star unions thumb|a us flag with gold fringe and a gold eagle on top of the flag pole when alaska and hawaii were being considered for statehood in the 1950s more than 1500 designs were submitted to president dwight d eisenhower although some were 49-star versions the vast majority were 50-star proposals at least three of these designs were identical to the present design of the 50-star flagthese designs are in the eisenhower presidential archives in abilene kansas only a small fraction of them have ever been published at the time credit was given by the executive department to the united states army institute of heraldry for the design the 49- and 50-star flags were each flown for the first time at fort mchenry on independence day in 1959 and 1960 respectively a popular myth is that an ohio teenager and later mayor of napoleon ohio named robert g heft had designed the 50-star flag but this was debunked by alec nevala-lee in his investigative article "false flag" on june 30 2022 before the publication of said article the myth had been cited as fact in numerous sources including wikipedia and the smithsonian institution website