RELIVING A 50TH STATE FIRST
Raising of first 50-star flag in Hawaii re-enacted
Advertiser Staff
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Gov. Linda Lingle was at Hickam Air Force Base late this morning to participate in a re-enactment of raising the first 50-star U.S. flag in Hawai'i.
Although Hawai'i became a state in August 1959, custom and law dictate that the addition of a star to signify a new state must take place on July 4 the following year.
On July 4, 1960, a 50-star American flag was raised for the first time over Poland Springs, Maine, the eastern-most point in the United States.
The same flag was then flown by jet to Hawai'i where it was raised at 4:30 p.m. by Airman Second Class John Psencik, who later presented the flag to then-Gov. William Quinn.
Psencik was scheduled to be the guest of honor at today's ceremony.
