MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gigantic (US made) Chilean flag for bicentennial celebrations
The flag will be flown from 61 metres, 50 tons mast in the heart of Santiago A gigantic Chilean flag, 18 meters wide and 27 meters long, is on its way to Chile from the United States.
The flag was made by North American company Flag & Flagpole Supply and is expected to arrive at the end of August, in time for Chile’s bicentennial celebrations.
“It was important for us to have the flag made in the United States because there are few places in the world that work in these proportions and with such highly complex fabrics,” said Pauline Kantor, executive secretary of the Bicentennial Commission.
Flag & Flagpole Supply’s specialty is large-scale flags. Its customers include the U.S., Jordan, Panama and Brazil.
“Flags with such big dimensions require a very precise technology,” said Cristián Undurraga, head architect of the project. “Their fabric is a special nylon, similar to that used to make sails for boats. It’s made to resist strong winds that can exert up to one ton of pressure.”
The mast is 61 meters long and weighs 50 tons. It will be permanently installed on Santiago's main street Alameda on Sept. 15, and the flag will be hoisted up the pole Sept. 17.
“The idea,” Undurraga said, “is for the flag to be a symbol of unity.”
By Kara Frantzich – Santiago Times
Top Comments
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Read all commentsit should be superimposed over argentina, to show them what freedom looks like
Aug 19th, 2010 - 11:16 pm 0LOrd knows that's about all the Empire produces. Flags and weapons of death.
Aug 20th, 2010 - 11:37 am 0Oh dear, seems as though Chile is going to follow the example of the argentines by celebrating a bicentennial too early. Not quite as bad as argentina, who celebrated theirs 43 years early. Chile is only going to celebrate 8 years early.
Aug 20th, 2010 - 05:08 pm 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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