Just because it doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t.

Made in the USA. After hunting endlessly for an existing sustainable solution, it became clear a new path would need to be blazed for these flags. Working with a local Minnesota company for the production and detailed engineering, our co-founder invented this new a flag staff as a solution to a number of issues uniquely specific to our organization.

This flag staff is a 3-part design: The forked staff, the shell, the cap. A nylon American flag will slide onto the forked staff, which inserts into a breathable shell with an opening to allow the flag to fly. When flag collection starts, the volunteer will turn the cap, wrapping the flag around the inner staff for complete protection from handling and the elements.

The estimated cost for a final flag staff, with a flag, will be $3 each. Each flag staff is expected to last decades if properly cared for.

The new flag design offers a number of solutions:

1. Sustainability: Much more budget and environmentally friendly, lasting decades instead of the 1-2 years use from the current disposable flags.
2. Durability: The thick plastic is stronger to prevent breakage and is impervious to weather or mold. The design offers a more robust blade for easier insertion to the ground.
3. Storage: With the flags retracted into the shell, sorting and storage of the flags will be much easier and organized.
4. Flag Collection: Retracting the flags as they are collected will slow the volunteers’ progress, allowing for a more organized and controllable situation.
5. Souvenir: A small, branded hollow tube (still in development) to insert into the hole as a handle for added leverage to push the staff into the ground. The tubes may offer a key chain attachment as a take-home souvenir for volunteering with Flags for Fort Snelling. This is secondary in development priority and will depend on fundraising.