What is in the gold ball on a flagpole?

Asked by: Slava Sullivan

At the top sits a little golden sphere known as the finial ball. Inside is a razor blade, a match, and a bullet. You must use the razor blade to cut the stars and stripes from the American flag, the match to burn the remains, and the bullet to defend the base or shoot yourself … depending on the circumstance.

What is the purpose of the ball on top of a flagpole?

The main purpose of the ball is to hold the flag in place. More specifically, it prevents the flag from sliding off the top of the flagpole. Many flags feature a tube-like section of fabric that runs vertically along the left-hand side of the flag.

What is ball on top of flagpole called?

‘Truck‘ is the term for the finial — or ball — on top of the base headquarters’ flagpole.

What is a flagpole finial?

Flagpole finials are the decorative ornaments that are placed at the top of the flagpole. Finials can also serve to protect outdoor hollow flagpoles from the rain or be used to hold pulleys, which allow the flag to be raised and lowered.

Why do they fold the American flag in a triangle?

The flag gets folded into a triangle because it is actually meant to resemble a tri-cornered hat, like the ones worn by George Washington and other soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

What are the parts of a flagpole?

It is more commonly known as ‘hoist end’.

• The Fly.
• The Fly End.
• The Canton.
• The Flagpole.
• The Truck.
• The Finial.
• The Halyard.

What do you do if the American flag touches the ground?

The only time when you should destroy or retire an American flag is when it’s severely soiled or damaged to the point where it’s no longer fitting to display. If your American flag touches the ground, pick it up and reattach it to the flagpole.

Which way does the eagle face on a flagpole?

While there is no official policy on the direction the eagle should face, many believe it should face toward Washington, DC in peacetime and in the direction of troops during wartime.

Why can’t red show on a folded flag?

The folded flag is emblematic of the tri-cornered hat worn by the Patriots of the American Revolution. When folded, no red or white stripe is to be evident, leaving only the blue field with stars. It is then presented as a keepsake to the next of kin or an appropriate family member.

Can you bury an American flag with a person?

General American Flag Etiquette
A flag should not be lowered into a grave or touch the ground. A flag should never be used as a covering for a statue or monument. A flag should never be used in such a way that will allow it to be torn, dirtied or damaged.

Are you supposed to take flag down in rain?

The flag should not be subject to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag.

What does flying a black flag mean?

In general, black flags are used by enemy forces to signify that enemy combatants are going to be killed rather than taken prisoner—essentially, the opposite of the white flag used to represent surrender.

Why are flags backwards on police uniforms?

The “reverse side flag” is commonly found on military uniforms and applied when the country’s emblem is on the right sleeve. The idea is to make it appear as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward. The blue field of stars should always be placed in the highest position of honour.