Portable Flag Poles

     The following plan is for a set of three portable flagpoles of up to 29' tall, each of which telescopes into one ten-foot section that two of even the smallest Scouts can easily carry.  With the addition of a moderately small box to contain the tackle, it becomes a system that is relatively simple to store, transport, and set up.  My unit (Troop 575, Chaparral District, South Plains Council, Lubbock, Texas) has successfully used such a set for several years, and while we typically use all three poles--one each for the U.S., Texas, and troop flags--the design of the system is flexible, allowing the use of just one or two of the poles. All of the materials required for this plan (see the parts list) should be readily available for purchase at virtually any full-line home improvement center such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Builder's Square, Payless Cashways, or the like.  However, one could probably get at least some of the materials donated.

                                 Overview

     Each pole consists of three ten-foot sections of electrical metal tubing (EMT):  a lower section with an inside diameter (i.d.) of 1-1/2", a center section with an i.d. of 1-1/4", and an upper section with an i.d. of 1".  For storing and transporting, the sections nest together--the upper section inside the center section inside the lower section--held together by one of the two wire-lock pins that are used to pin the sections together when set up.  A 1" floor flange slides down over the upper section and rests atop the center section, with the four holes in the rim of the flange providing the necessary attachment points for four guy-ropes.  The assembled pole sits atop a base plate to prevent the pole from
sinking into the ground.  The halyard is attached to the top of the upper section with an eye bolt, quick-link, and pulley arrangement, while a rope cleat clamped to the bottom section provides a tie-off point for the bottom of the halyard.

                         Flag Arrangement Options

     There are several possible flag arrangements using all three poles.  The first arrangement is a symmetrical one with the U.S. flag in the center on a 29'-tall pole, flanked on either side by shorter poles flying the state and unit flags.  Assuming a standard flag size of 3' x 5', a height of 26' is recommended for the two shorter poles.  This will place the tops of the state and unit flags at the same height as the bottom edge of the U.S. flag.  One could make the shorter poles 27'6" tall, placing the tops of the state and unit flags even with the middle of the U.S. flag.  However, given the relative size of the entire set-up, this smaller difference in flag height is almost indiscernible, particularly to someone standing near the base of the poles.

     A second option is to use poles of three different heights:  the U.S. flag on a 29' pole, the state flag on a 26' pole, and the unit flag on a 23' pole.  Again, although one could use an 18" difference in pole height rather than 36" (27'6" and 26' instead of 26' and 23', respectively), the greater difference is more obvious.  In this arrangement, either the U.S. flag or the state flag should occupy the center position.

     Consider making each pole adjustable to all heights needed for the selected arrangement. Doing so makes it unnecessary to keep track of which pole is which when preparing to raise them.  However, it does require the drilling of more than one hole in the lower end of each upper section.  Alternatively, mark the lower section of each pole with either an engraving tool or a ring of some unique color around one end (Marks-a-Lot(tm) works well for this purpose) as an indication of how tall it will be when fully extended.

     A third alternative--having all poles of equal height--requires drilling the fewest number of holes to make the poles interchangeable, but this is not really an appropriate arrangement for displaying the U.S. flag with that of any state except Texas. In general, the U.S. flag should be flown higher than state, community, or organizational flags.  However,  "When the Texas Flag and the Flag of the United States of America are displayed at the same time, they should be flown on separate flagpoles of equal length, and the Flags should be approximately the same size." (note 1).

                               Construction

     Construction of this pole set is relatively simple.  The only tool required is a drill with a 5/16" bit, although a drill press would be helpful.

POLES