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The Story of
the ODBC Flag Mast
The ODBC’s first flag mast was erected in the late 60’s and donated
by ODBC Past Commodore John Friday. On May 15, 1977 Club President
Harry Harrington held the Club’s first official flag raising
celebration to kick off the boating season. Arthur M. King, the
oldest living ex-ODBC President (84) at the time had the honor of
hoisting the Club’s flag. Radio Veteran Bill Mayhugh was Master of
Ceremony. Club Member Frank E. Mann, who joined ODBC in 1947, was
Mayor of the City of Alexandria and guest speaker. Notes
from 1977 Past President Harry Harrington
In the spring of 1996, the Old Dominion Boat Club gave a generous
grant to the Alexandria Seaport Foundation so that it could
construct a new flag mast for the Club. The flag mast was
constructed using traditional materials and methods, yet at the same
time contained very high tech, space age materials.
Having withstood several lightning strikes, the flag mast has
endured well over the years. It is a hollow spar that originally was
45 ft in length and weighted about 150 lbs. It is made of 8 tapered
staves of Maine spruce that were about 45 ft in length, laminated
together in a circular shape with an one eight inch carbon fiber
cord filling the seams between each stave. The carbon fiber
provides great strength at minimal weight.
In late winter 2007, the Seaport Foundation removed the flag mast to
its workshops for repairs necessitated by the lightning strikes and
to repair some rotted areas. The carbon fiber in the mast is a
conductor of electricity. When lightning struck the mast,
apparently the electricity traveled down the carbon fiber to the
base of the mast where it exited causing damage. The flag mast is
now several feet shorter than it was originally because of this, but
the Seaport Foundation has repaired all the damage. The flag mast
stills stands as an enduring symbol of the Club's presence on the
water at the foot of King Street and it is a symbol of the Club's on
the water relationship with, and support for, the Alexandria Seaport
Foundation.
Authored by Past Commodore Larry Landgraff 1994-1998
Photos of raising the new flag mast in 1996....
donated by Past Commodore Larry Landgraff
click on photo to enlarge
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