[Robin Hickman]

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Hi, Kathy !


How, when, & where people choose to fly their Flags is, as always, a very personal choice.

The Flag/Flags I choose to fly out in front of my house are flown mainly during daylight hours only. They are 3'x5' flags mounted on 8' wood poles that are held in place (upright) by either a pipe in the ground or 60 Lb. concrete blocks on the porch pad. I have posted photos around this site showing what they look like. Here's one from Independence Day, 2009.

July 4th, 2009 : THREE FLAGS :
(2009-07-04)-MiddleFlagForGreengo.JPG


As for flying my Flag on rainy days: It just depends on how "bad" the weather is supposed to be on any given day. Almost all the Flags that I have are lightweight printed/dyed Flags of either polyester or nylon material. Because they are lightweight (light duty) and made of a synthetic material, they dry out very quickly, BUT are more suseptible to wind damage. I am less worried about the rain than I am about the wind.

IF the weather forecast calls for LIGHT wind and/or rain, I'll fly my Flag(s) during the day. If the Flag(s) is still a little WET when I "strike" it in the late afternoon or early evening, I'll hang it up (unfurled) overnight in the garage. If the Flag(s) is DRY at the end of the day, then I'll roll it up on the pole ("furl" it) and put it just inside the front door.

IF the weather forecast calls for HEAVY wind/rain, the Flag(s) stay nice and dry INDOORS.

While my Flags are "Light Duty" and not suitable for all weather conditions, the ones YOU'LL be flying will be "Heavy Duty" ALL-WEATHER Flags.

So what does the "Flag Code" say about displaying the Flag at night or in inclement weather? Check Section 6 ("§6. Time and occasions for display") of the "Flag Code".

In Short :

§6. Time and occasions for display

(a.) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. [Emphasis added]

(c.) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed. [Emphasis added]

A copy of the "Flag Code" can be found HERE :
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm


My personal "interpretations" (short form) of those two sub-sections is as follows.

Section 6 (a.) : "Properly Illuminated" means that a "Flag Specific" (or dedicated) light of sufficient brightness is used to illuminate the Flag. Specifically, that the light's one and only reason for being in existance is to light up that Flag during the overnight hours of darkness.
Section 6 (c.) : "Inclement Weather" means ANY weather condition that would likely cause harm to, or loss of, the Flag. "All-Weather" means that the Flag's materials and construction are such that it can easily withstand all but the most severe of weather conditions (ie. hurricanes, tornadoes, severe ice storms, etc.).


I hope that helps clear up a few things. If you have any other questions, all you've got to do is ask, right?


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[Robin Hickman]

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Gee!


It's been almost THREE (3) months since we last heard from "VPNNM" (Kathy) !!!

I wonder how things went with her NEW Flagpole & FLAG ???



I sure hope VPNNM/Kathy comes back to tell us all about it and post some pictures of it too !!!



Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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