Robert G. Heft facts for kids

Robert G. Heft on December 5, 2009, seven days before his death.

Robert G. "Bob" Heft (January 19, 1941 – December 12, 2009) was the designer of the current United States 50-star flag. He has also designed a 51-star flag that would be used if a new state joins the United States. He was born in Saginaw, Michigan.

Heft designed the current United States flag as a school project in Lancaster, Ohio when he was 17 years old. He got a B- for his project by his teacher, Stanley Pratt. After talking about the project, he made an agreement with his teacher that if the flag was made as the official flag by the United States Congress, he would get a better grade for the project. Heft's design was chosen out of more than 1,500 designs that were given to United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and his teacher changed his grade to an A.

After graduating from college, he became a high school teacher and later a college professor. He was also mayor of Napoleon, Ohio for 28 years.

Heft died on December 12, 2009 from a heart attack while living in Saginaw. This happened after many years of having diabetes. He was 68 years old.

Images for kids

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  Oil painting depicting the 39 historical U.S. flags

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  U.S. flag being burned in protest on the eve of the 2008 election

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  A subdued-color flag patch, similar to style worn on the United States Army's ACU uniform. The patch is normally worn reversed on the right upper sleeve. See explanation in "Display on uniforms" section below.

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  A U.S. flag with gold fringe and a gold eagle on top of the flag pole

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  A boy holds an American flag during the 2009 National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C.

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  A tattered flag at Spokane Valley Police Headquarters, Spokane, Washington

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  Truck with backwards flag sticker

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  The crew of Apollo 1 wore their flags on the right shoulder, unlike all other U.S. astronaut flight crews.

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  The NASA Vehicle Assembly Building in 1977. The VAB has the largest U.S. flag ever used on a building, and with the Bicentennial Star opposite the flag.

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  Astronaut Buzz Aldrin salutes the United States flag on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 mission (1969)

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  Flags depicted on U.S. postage stamp issues

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  Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, Virginia

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  Flags covering the National Mall

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  An American flag now flies over Gate 17 of Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, departure gate of United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11.

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  Folding the U.S. flag

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  A flag prepared for presentation to the next of kin