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About Albert Kirsch
Expertise
I am more-or-less expert in vexillology (the study of flags). My expertise is particularly strong in North America at the level of city and county, but if I don`t know the answer I know a dozen people who do. So if there`s a flag in the newspaper or on TV that you have trouble identifying, let me know. I`ll do my best. But PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO APPRAISE A FLAG'S VALUE: (1) I have no expertise in that area and (2) even if I did, I cannot appraise something I can't see. Take it to a museum which has a specialist in textiles and the like.

Experience
In this field, I designed the flag of Carroll County, Illinois, in 1974 (see http://www.internetni.com/~lanarklib/index.html). You can see my personal flag at http://www.nava.org/memflags.htm

You are here: Experts > Science > Geography > Flags > Putting a 4ft antenna on top a flagpole

Flags - Putting a 4ft antenna on top a flagpole

Expert: Albert Kirsch - 11/3/2009

Question
Legally, can a 4ft vertical antenna be put at the top of a 15 - 20 foot flag pole? I have been reading US Code Title 4 and can't find an answer, other than regarding filials. It would make the flag to appear being flown at 3/4 mast.

Answer
"Legally", yes. Flag protocol does not actually have the force fo law because there is no penalty prescribed for violating it. And protocol manuals cannot anticipate every eventuality; yours is one such, though I assure you no military base would do it. But I agree it would make the flag look snagged at 3/4 height (5/6, at 20 feet, actually :-). What sort of antenna is this? Radio hams usually put their beams on the roof, as do subscribers to satellite TV, and most other transmissions don't require external antennas. If you think there's no alternative, go ahead, though you might get unpleasant remarks from local super-patriots. If you have doubts, don't do it. To me, it would look odd, frankly. But there's no law against it.

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