Aug. 21, 1959: Hawaii officially made state with proclamation
Washington, Aug. 21 — UPI — President Eisenhower proclaimed Hawaii a state today and unfurled a new 50-star flag for the nation.
The president’s proclamation bringing the Pacific islands territory into the Union and the unveiling of the new flag took place at formal White House ceremonies.
It marked the second time this year Eisenhower has welcomed a new state. He proclaimed Alaska a state on Jan. 3 in similar ceremonies.
The new Star Spangled Banner replaces a 49-star flag which only came into official use July 4 to mark Alaskan statehood. The new 50-star emblem will go into use next July 4.
Today’s proclamation gave statehood status to 585,000 Hawaiians in the island cluster which lies 2,400 miles from the west coast.
Monday, three recently-elected members of Congress from Hawaii will be seated. The two senators are Hiram L. Fong, a Republican and the first American of Chinese descent to be elected to the Senate, and Oren E. Long, a Democrat. The house member is Daniel K. Inouye, a Democrat and the first American of Japanese ancestry to serve in Congress.
Eisenhower interrupted his vacation at Gettysburg to fly here by helicopter for the ceremony.
This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.
