HOWEVER BRIEFLY MAY IT WAVE

By Alain L. Sanders

When the government says it's going to run something up the flagpole, it's not kidding. For a small charge, you can become the proud owner of a U.S. flag that has flown over the Capitol, along with an appropriate certificate, by sending a request to your favorite Senator or Representative. Best bargain: a 3-ft. by 5-ft. nylon version for $10.04, which includes a $3.30 flying fee but not shipping and handling. The request is forwarded by your Congressman to the Flag Office of the Capitol, where an average of 350 such specially sought Star-Spangled Banners are prepared for hoisting every day. The flags are run up for less than a minute each by Capitol Architect workers on three special poles on the House side roof (out of photo-op range), typically between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Since the program began in 1937, some 2.4 million banners have fluttered at the behest of citizens. The biggest flag-flying day? July 4, of course, when more than 2,000 flags can be expected to wave on request. The one-day record was set on July 4, 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial, when 10,471 flags went up and down on seven poles from midnight to midnight (that's more than seven flags a minute).

--By Alain L. Sanders