Posted on 07/27/2005 5:01:35 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
RIP--this is so sad---but my first reaction was why are they pitching a tent under or near, power lines? I didn't need my 25 years of Girl Scout training to know that---just common sense.
Negative examples do work. It is just too bad the cost so very dearly.
Low hot wires are covered in a plastic/rubber casing. Hot wires are always really high out of the reach of anything 4 men could lift. I just don't get it.
Why no tents under trees?
Probably due to lightning - it will go for the highest thing around. So the tree would act like a lightning rod.
Why no tents under trees?
Lightening strikes. And high wind can bring a tree or large branches down. A huge white pine in our backyard ended up on top of our garage last summer.
Just a guess, but it could have been a temporary power line put up for the Jamoboree. So it might have been hanging lower than a normal line.
As a fan of the Boy Scouts and an Alaskan too, we are all mourning the loss of these fine men. Just too sad for words.
On a side note, the raising of a tent being against Scout safety teachings is one error. If I'm correct, another error has been made by flying the flag at half mast. I assume the flag that has been referred to in this and other articles is the U. S. flag.
If so, I believe that this has been another error. I'm not saying that these men don't deserve to have the flag flown at half mast. I'm merely pointing out that there are protocols for this.
"Flags can only be flown at half-mast to represent the death of an important government official. In order to fly it half-mast for any other reason, the President must give his approval."
Please correct me if I'm wrong. I thought of this because of a discussion I had with someone a few years ago about this and did some research to learn more.
I'm a forester for a rural electric cooperative. People don't look up. It's often as simple as that. I've heard many times "I didn't even know there was a line there until you cut it out."
Like somebody else said, it's a lesson learned at a very dear price.
A half mast flag can be ordered by a local government, county government, state gvt or the Pres. It must be for a specific period of time and ratified by the majority of the governing body, except the Pres.
Certainly there are protocols for "official" flags. But when you own the flag, you can pretty much fly it whatever way you wish. And as long as it's not disrespectful to the flag, there shouldn't be any objection to it.
Please save me from purists.
If it weren't for the four dead, this would be a funny line.
Thanks for the info. :)
"Certainly there are protocols for "official" flags. But when you own the flag, you can pretty much fly it whatever way you wish. And as long as it's not disrespectful to the flag, there shouldn't be any objection to it.
Please save me from purists."
Consider yourself saved. ;) I'm not a purist, just like to learn things. I had quite a conversation with someone a few years ago. I can't remember the details except that they were upset that their town was flying it's flag at half-mast due to the death of a local who was well-loved and respected. He was a Vietnam vet and seemed to know his flag protocol so well that I was actually embarrassed at what I didn't know. Guess I still don't quite understand the "protocol" yet. I've read and heard conflicting things now.
I know we're supposed to also only fly the flag at night if there is a light shining on it. Well, we couldn't put a light out where our flag is waving but that flag has been flying out there ever since 9/11. Had to put it far out on the edge of our place or no one would see it. We replaced it when it became tattered which was around the same time our son was sent to Iraq.
Go to the American Legion website. As you may know, the Legion is big on flag respect and protocol. I think just about any question you might have will be answered by the Legion.
I can't believe I didn't think of that! That's the perfect place for my questions. Many in my family are members of the American Legion, including my son. Thanks for the great advice. :)
Lightning doesn't necessarily go the the "highest thing around", although it is certainly wise not to be that highest thing around. Lightning is very unpredictable.
About 3 years ago, our neighbor's house and barn got struck by lightning. They are down in a hollow and might more properly be thought of as "the lowest thing around". Less than a mile up the road, my place is at least 200' higher in elevation. Yet they got struck and we didn't. Go figure.
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