Flagpole price estimates are likely low
To the editor:
In response to “Thoughts on a 250-foot flagpole” published in The Breeze on Oct. 10, 2025:
After reading this letter to the editor, I consulted with friends who have been in the flag production and installation business for three generations and they shared the following information:
The proposed 250-foot flagpole is not a standard size, so it will have to be a special order. A flagpole of this height will have to be strong enough to withstand hurricane strength winds, yet light enough to install.
An inground pole requires 10% of the pole height installed in the ground, which means 25′ will have to be installed. The sand in which it is installed will not be stable regardless of the amount of concrete used.
The flag will also have to be specially manufactured at one-quarter of the flagpole height making the estimated size 35′ x 75′. Flags usually last almost a year, but the tensile strength of a flag this size would cause shredding of the ends within 2-3 months. In the Chicago suburbs, there was an incident where a public flag was being removed by a crew and the pull on the flag cut a man’s finger off.
The cost of the project will be monumental and far exceed the estimated $500,000 budget. The budget must provide for a custom pole, engineering for stability and processes used, shipping of the pole from the manufacturer, crane use for installation, and cost of 4-5 flags per year.
We ask that all of these factors are considered as the proposed project moves forward.
Suzanne Treichler
Cape Coral