Deseret News
‘It belongs to the public’: Family donates first 45-star banner to fly over the U.S. Capitol
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Serge Horton Benson, center, and Jan Benson salute the 45-star flag that has been in their family after presenting it to the state at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. It is the original 45-star flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol when Utah became the 45th state in 1896. It will be displayed on the first floor of the Utah Capitol.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
For years Jan Benson felt conflicted about a piece of Utah and American history that his family had in their possession.
KSL TV
Editor s note: This article is a part of a series reviewing Utah and U.S. history for KSL.com s Historic section.
SALT LAKE CITY For years Jan Benson felt conflicted about a piece of Utah and American history that his family had in their possession.
His family, through his father s various political and history connections, had acquired the first 45-star flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol right after Utah became the country s 45th state on Jan. 4, 1896. Benson, of Logan, was proud of his family s possession but also felt somewhat guilty because he knew it was something that belonged to everyone.