A commitment to Old Glory

A commitment to Old GloryHow a teen's history project became the U.S.'s official flag

By VINCE BOND JR.Newhouse News Service

THOMAS TOWNSHIP, MICH. - Robert G. Heft once sat patiently at an autograph signing in Dallas while hundreds of people flocked to NBA legend Michael Jordan to claim one of his $30 signatures.

Standing in Heft's 10-person line, a boy asked his father why they were waiting for the autograph of a man he'd never seen. The father replied that Heft — who designed America's 50-star flag — is a piece of history.

Although he'll grace the pages of history books one day for his accomplishment, Heft, 64, of Thomas Township, Mich., doesn't place himself on a pedestal.

"I never look at myself like anything special," Heft said recently. "I consider myself just a regular person."

Last fall, Heft put up the 48-year-old banner that he sewed as a high school history project on eBay and set the price at $250,000. Although the item received more than 10,000 hits during two 10-day bidding periods, Heft said he didn't get any serious offers.

A year later, he's happy that the flag — now in a glass case for preservation — still is safe with him.

"One thing I was concerned about was where it would end up," said Heft, a retired professor from Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio.

Private collectors around the country — including two billionaires — have shown interest in the artifact, and there's a strong possibility it could end up in another city, he said.

"It would be nice for it to be in a (local) museum where people can see it," Heft said. "It's a part of my life."

As a junior at Ohio's Lancaster High School in 1958, Heft needed a project for his American history class.

He found his calling when he came across the story of Betsy Ross, creator of the country's original flag. Armed with an idea, Heft took his family's 48-star flag and removed the blue portion of the banner.

It took him nine hours to cut out the 100 fabric stars needed to cover each side of the flag's top corner, he said. Heft went the 50-star route because of speculation that Alaska and Hawaii would become states.

Heft asked his grandmother to sew the blue section onto the flag, but she refused after realizing he'd dismantled the family's banner.

"She didn't want anything to do with it," Heft recalled.

Out of options, Heft took matters into his own hands, sewing his version of "Old Glory."
After working on the flag for 12 1/2 hours, Heft said he expected his grade to match his effort, but his teacher gave him a B-minus. Normally a quiet student, Heft said he had to confront the teacher.

"I approached him (thinking), 'Are you kidding me?' " Heft said.

After the discussion, the teacher told Heft that if he got the flag accepted nationally, he would give him an A.

Heft then sent the flag to a state representative and in 1960, his design became the country's official symbol. His teacher promptly bumped up his grade.

Heft's prestigious status has resulted in 14 trips to the White House. He's met every commander-in-chief since Dwight Eisenhower.

These days, he remains active on the speaking circuit, saying he usually addresses around 225 audiences a year.

"As long as I'm able to promote patriotism, that's what I'll do," he said.

When Heft's not tied up with speaking engagements, he works as a volunteer teacher at two Saginaw elementary schools for Junior Achievement, an organization that tutors youths on economics. He also is working on a book he calls New Glory: The Story of Old Glory that documents some of his experiences.

Heft is eagerly anticipating July 5, when his 50-star design will overtake the 48-star banner and become the longest-serving flag in U.S. history.

And just in case Puerto Rico is granted statehood, Heft said he has a 51-star model ready to go.