Second-chance poles fly Old Glory

Posted 6/30/22

“You can get the impression, by what’s in the news every day, that people are not proud of our country, that no one loves our country, and that what our nation stands for is not good. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”

Ryan Pool was speaking about how and why he had come to purchase and install used flagpoles in the Mineola area.

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Second-chance poles fly Old Glory

Posted

“You can get the impression, by what’s in the news every day, that people are not proud of our country, that no one loves our country, and that what our nation stands for is not good. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”

Ryan Pool was speaking about how and why he had come to purchase and install used flagpoles in the Mineola area.

It had all started with an innocent question. While on a logistics run to Dallas to pick-up supplies for Hometown Trophy and Tees, he noticed that his supplier had a number of large used flagpoles in his commercial lot. The supplier reconditioned the used flagpoles, which varied in height from 20 to 50 feet, and sold them.

An idea took shape. Pool had a gooseneck trailer for his supply run.

“I bought a few and thought I might be able to find a home for them in the local area.” That was eight years ago.

Since that day, Pool has had a hand in installing about 50 large flagpoles for folks around Wood County. To date, his customers have been individuals, with a large percentage being veterans.

The used flagpoles come from disused shopping malls or closed businesses. After some basic reconditioning, which involves replacing the pulley and finial, as well as stringing fresh lanyard; the flagpoles are ready for installation.

The aluminum flagpoles are remarkably light, although their size presents plenty of challenge in erecting them safely.

The process involves sinking a heavy-gauge PVC sleeve into the ground. The sleeve has a slightly larger diameter than the base of the pole. The base is then led to the top of the sleeve and held there, while a second person picks up the end of the pole and walks his way toward the base.

“It takes someone taller than me to walk it up,” Pool admitted with a smile.

The flagpole will come to slip into the sleeve. Fine sand is then poured around the pole while Pool is busy with a level to ensure the final position is as near to vertical as possible.

The whole operation requires about an hour.

Although it is possible to take a flagpole erected in this manner down, it is not recommended, as it can come down in a hurry once clear of the sleeve. Large flagpoles also present some challenges when it comes to maintenance, or slippage of the lanyard out of the pulley.

There is no denying, however, the grandeur of a tall flagpole.

Most of the installations Pool has done were to fly the Stars and Stripes, although Pool also noted that the Texas flag and service flags (the Marine Corps flag for instance) are destined for an installation every now and then.

One gentleman ended up placing one flagpole atop another in order to reach a height which would put the flag above some mature trees on his property.

Although the service started as a way to augment his income, Pool admits that it is not much of a moneymaker. That, however, never deterred him from continuing to assist folks in flying the flag. His ball cap – embroidered with a national flag – was a pretty good indicator that the flagpole service had become a bit of a mission.

Finding time to commit to further installations is tough now that he has taken over running of Hometown Trophy and Tees from his parents, Kim and Billy Pool. The business relocated last June to the Mineola Industrial Park and is now housed in a 4,800-sq.-ft. purpose-built facility.

It is a connection to family, community and country which keeps Pool engaged with the flag-raising initiative. Pool and his wife Desiree are graduates of Mineola High School and are raising their young family on a holding just south of Mineola.

Pool is circumspect about the effect his flagpole initiative may have.

“It’s too easy these days to get engulfed in evil,” he explained. “If we took more time to see what is in front of us, and appreciate it for the good that it represents, we would be in a much better place.”