(Gov. Gary Herbert's Office)
A man searching a junkyard for used car parts made an incredible find: an American flag with just 45 stars.
His family gave the large flag as a gift to the 45th state: Utah. Governor Gary Herbert helped unveil the flag Tuesday in Salt Lake City.
Jack Mommer spotted the flag inside a broken-down van at the junkyard in Dike, Iowa in 2007, officials say. He died of cancer in 2014.
Mary Mommer presents the flag. (Gov. Gary Herbert's Office)
Mommer's widow, Mary, and friend Cary Ruggles presented the flag to Utah's governor at the state capitol.
Speaking to KTVX, Mary Mommer said her husband told her, "It's beautiful because it's all hand sewn, the stars are all hand sewn."
Utah entered the Union as the 45th state in January 4, 1896. The state is celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2016. The American flag officially had 45 stars until Oklahoma became a state in 1907.
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