How to Rig a Flag to a Pole

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By Katie Halpin
eHow Contributing Writer

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Displaying a flag is a popular way to mark national holidays of celebration and remembrance. In the United States, flags are widely displayed on Independence Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, on Flag Day and on the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. Whether you only fly the flag on special days or make it a point to hoist it daily, correctly attaching a flag to a flagpole is important if you want to easily raise and lower the flag and keep it flying freely.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Flagpole
Halyard (rope)
Snaps
Flag

Step 1

Attach the halyard (rope) to the flag pole if it isn't already attached by running the rope through the truck, or pulley, on the top of the pole, and the cleat, or bottom part of the pole.
Step 2

Attach snaps to halyard before you knot it to form a loop. Do this by putting a loop of the halyard through the eye (or bottom of the snap) and then putting the loop over the top of the snap. Once the loop is over the top, pull it tight. Be sure to place two snaps on the halyard--one each for the top and bottom corners of the flag. Accordingly, the snaps should be placed at an appropriate distance from one another so you can attach to the flag without bunching either the flag or the halyard.
Step 3

Knot the halyard so that it forms a loop.
Step 4

Clip the snaps through the appropriate holes in the top and bottom corners of the flag.
Step 5

Hoist the flag briskly.

Tips & Warnings

Every time you raise and lower the flag, be sure to check the condition of the halyard. The halyard will become worn and frayed over time, so replacing one before it breaks is a priority.
Do not use the flag itself to complete the halyard loop (don't attach each end of the halyard to the flag instead of independently tying the ends together and using snaps). According to Anyflag.com, no strain should be on the flag itself--it should be on the halyard. If done incorrectly, the constant pulling on the flag will tear it.