This is the second flagpole we've installed in our front yard. Hurricane Sandy took the first one down (along with an oak tree in our backyard). The thunderstorm/tornado warning we had this week took this second one down. Hubs seems to think that a fiberglass one will withstand the weather better. I say Mother Nature will do whatever she wants.

Note the swampy grass. We can't even go out and get the flags without sinking up to our ankles in the mud. We'll give the stars and stripes a fitting send off at our bonfire. Anyone know a bagpiper in eastern PA?

I bet Ram plays... 🇨🇮

Dang, Trish... that sucks! If the ground is wet and muddy, a big ole cement base probably won't help.

If Ram doesn't...Lars Tetens does!

bummer...

Gladly it missed us .. To bad but at at least your all ok..

Google "boy scout troop bethlehem pa "

They're trained in the proper way to retire the American Flag.

+1 I always use the local Boy Scout troops to properly dispose of my old flags. It helps that they use my shooting clubs clubhouse every monday night for their meetings.

I'm passing through town on Friday on my way to Philly.
PM me the exact address and I'll rescue both Old Glory and the Gadsden Flag(?) from the mud.

Mark/BD

Glad no one was hurt. Could you install a concrete pillar like a parking lot light post has?

What did you you do to pi$$ off Mother Nature?
A good deep base and a stronger pole are in order. Try one of the poles on a pivot that can be lowered before an extreme wind event. Or maybe your flags were too large for the size of the pole. (one flag and not two perhaps). I used to do flagpole maintenance for two major complexes in NYC at a previous job.

Using a fishing pole would have evaded this dilemma.

WWZD

What about concrete?

As an FYI per the Flag Code, the flag does not necessarily need to be retired because it touched the ground.

The two pertinent points are:
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Whereas the flag should not touch the ground, it does not need to be retired simply because it did touch the ground. If it can be cleaned and it otherwise is still in serviceable condition it can continue to be used.

Whenever I feel like hanging around doing nothing, drinking all day and letting the women do all the work, I fly my Bahamian flag.

Truth. My grandpa Joe Zeller runs their flag retirement ceremony at the Schnecksville Fire Hall with them. Theres actually a place out back of the fire hall specifically for flag retirement.

Used to help him out with it around flag day every year until I started getting busy with life all the time.

I heard Z plays a mean meat whistle.

you need to bang some "thinner and tougher steel"
down about 3 ft at least ( maybe concrete around that a little) and go up 4-6 feet inside the
hollow poles you are using....
also....guide wires could help ??? maybe???
does it keep falling in the same direction???