ALASKA'S FLAG

:''This article is about the song. For the flag itself, see Flag of Alaska.''
"'Alaska's Flag'" is the state song of Alaska. Long-time Alaska Department of Education employee Marie Drake echoed flag creator Benny Benson's sentiments of his design in a poem she wrote in 1935 - this formed the basis for the Alaskan state song composed by Elinor Dusenbury whose husband was commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933-1936. The Territorial Legislature adopted "Alaska's Flag" as Alaska's official song in 1955. The Territory of Alaska became a state in 1959.
At the age of 95, Carol Beery Davis, a longtime Juneau resident and musician, wrote a second verse to the Alaska Flag song. She described the history of it as being near and dear to her heart. Juneau had been her home during the years of the entire flag song development process. She published a pamphlet in 1964 titled "Alaska’s Flag," in which she outlined the history and development of the flag story. She interviewed Benny Benson and wrote of Marie Drake and Elinor Dusenbury. She described them as being "long-time personal friends of mine." Her husband, Trevor Davis, was also on the final selection committee that choose Benson’s design in 1927. In 2002, House Bill 285 sought to officially incorporate Davis’ second verse into the Alaska state song. On Jan. 24, 2002, the bill passed the Alaska House. It is still waiting to be reviewed by the Alaska Senate.
The song honors the flag of Alaska:
'Verse 1'
:Eight stars of gold on a field of blue,
:Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
:The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
:The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
:The gold of the early sourdough dreams,
:The precious gold of the hills and streams;
:The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
:The ''Bear''—the ''Dipper''—and, shining high,
:The great North Star with its steady light,
:O'er land and sea a beacon bright.
:Alaska's flag—to Alaskans dear,
:The simple flag of a last frontier.
'Verse 2' (Lesser known)
:A Native lad chose the Dipper's stars
:For Alaska's flag that there be no bars
:Among our culture. Let it be known
:Through years the Native's past has grown
:To share life's treasures, hand in hand,
:To keep Alaska our Great-Land;
:We love the northern midnight sky,
:The mountains, lakes and streams nearby.
:The great North Star with its steady light
:Will guide all cultures, clear and bright,
:With nature's flag to Alaskans dear,
:The simple flag of the last frontier.

Contents

External links

External links

★ Alaska's Flag, musical score and lyrics, via Alaska State Library

★ Alaska's Flag, lyrics, via Alaska State Library

★ Alaska's Flag, musical score and lyrics (first verse only), via Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development