Fargo Man Accepts Honorary Doctorate On Behalf of Grandfather, Alaska’s State Flag Designer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KVRR) — A Fargo man took a trip to Alaska to accept a posthumous honorary doctorate from Alaska Pacific University on behalf of his grandfather, who designed Alaska’s state flag.

Daren Herman stepped foot for the first time in Alaska years after his grandfather, Benny Benson, designed the state’s flag in 1927.

Benny’s first daughter is Daren’s mother.

Many came to celebrate Herman’s arrival at the airport and to celebrate the history of both the flag and his family.

“I just never really understood the connection that he had to Alaska and the Alaska people, so it’s great. It’s gonna be overwhelming. This is overwhelming,” said Daren Herman.

Herman plans to return to Alaska one day in the future and visit all the places named after his grandfather.