Flag Up, Moth Down

By Dottie Evans

Newtown’s annual raising of the summer American flag is always a spectacle, and last Saturday morning, May 22, was no exception.

The event’s most obvious and traffic-stopping feature is the arrival of the Newtown Hook and Ladder Company fire truck at precisely 9:30 am when it parks in the middle of Main Street. All eyes are focused on the extension ladder and single firefighter in full uniform perched at the end slowly drawing nearer the goal.

This goal would be a spot 30 feet up the flagpole where the coiled ropes are fastened to a cleat. These ropes have held the winter flag securely in place for the last eight months. Onlookers gazing at the old flag note its tattered edges and faded colors.

“It’s always worse for the wear after a long winter. This one will be disposed of properly, re-conditioned, or possibly given to someone in town as a remembrance,” said Newtown Lions Club Vice President Jon Christensen on Saturday, speaking for the service club that raises money and donates the summer flag each year to the town.

Longtime flagpole custodian David Lydem stood alongside the group of Lions ready to help with the transfer. At 20 by 30 feet, the summer flag is nearly twice the size of the winter flag. When raised to the top of Newtown’s 100-foot steel Liberty Pole, it slowly unfurls with a compelling majesty. It will reign supreme until after Labor Day when a new winter flag is installed.

Mothra’s Descent Surprises Onlookers

Another feature of the annual summer flag raising is its unpredictability.

Last year, a cold wind blew so hard that the big flag unfurled like a spinnaker. Five Lions on the ground were hard put to hold it down, while David Lydem struggled to affix the clips to the grommets.

This year on a cloudy, humid May morning, nary a breath of a breeze ruffled the summer flag’s red and white striped edge. And as the American flag went up, something else –– equally magnificent in its own way –– came down.

A giant Polyphemous silk moth that had been clinging to the flagpole ropes plummeted to the ground below. It was so big that the impact of its furry body and large wings landing on the pavement was heard as a slight click by those standing nearby.

“It’s Mothra!” someone suggested, referring to the Japanese horror flick in which a giant mechanical moth creature and a Kamodo dragon look-alike battle to the death.

“I think he was hanging out by the lights,” said Hook and Ladder firefighter James Croswell, who has been the designated flagman at the end of the extension ladder for several years.

“He’s stunned but still alive,” said Mr Lydem as he watched the moth flutter weakly on the pavement. Someone scooped it up and delivered it to the safety of a boxwood bush in front of the Newtown Meeting House.

Ever so slowly overhead, the summer flag began its hypnotic furling and unfurling pattern as the breeze picked up and the sun came out. Traffic resumed its flow and people hurried home to work in their gardens.