Saturday, September 17, 2016

History Of Flagpoles And Their Lightings

By Alfred Goggins


If you're flying the U.S. Flag at night it should be lit. Illumination is out of respect to the Flag of the United States and to be able to view the stars and stripes in the dark from a distance. Its unfurled banner, which symbolizes the love and pride that we have as a nation, is a poignant reminder of America's greatness and our fortune to live in a country which values freedom above all else. It signifies the commitment made by our fallen comrades who battled bravely to defend the honor of this sacred emblem - our American unity, our power, and our purpose as a nation, and it exemplifies the devotion of our leaders who continue to uphold its promise of liberty, justice and freedom for all.

The flag of the United States is the emblem of our identity as a separate nation, which the United States of America has been for more than 200 years. Therefore, citizens should stand at attention and salute when their flag is passing in a parade or be hoisted or lowered. The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open, but it may be displayed at night upon special occasions to produce a patriotic effect.

Proper illumination of your U.S. Flag should be installed and aimed near your flagpole if you intend to display the flag at night. There is some unique historical perspective to this question. In 1970, a disabled veteran named Philip Daigneault wrote President Richard Nixon regarding a display of patriotism by flying the U.S. Flag on a 24-hour basis till the Vietnam War came to an end.

His letter was forwarded to the Adjutant General of the time in the Department of the Army. Major General Kenneth G. Wickham wrote back to Mr. Daigneault and included a response.

It is not advisable to flood the entire area in order to illuminate the flag; you simply want to spotlight the flag itself, avoiding any other light trespass. Controlling the light to come on at dusk and go off at dawn is also recommended. The advancements in outdoor lighting technology can reduce your energy use costs while still keeping your flag lit throughout the nighttime hours.

However, there is a barrage of cheap flagpole lightings being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported stuff is cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flagpole lightings made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flags and flagpole lightings offered a special edition of solar powered flagpole lightings to provide innovative solutions for individual projects.




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