this is a two part question, both parts must be correct for best answer. ok, ready, go?

Question

what is the ball on top of the flagpole called?
what three items are in it?

and for a thumbs up: what exactly are you supposed to do with it?

i can't believe what i'm seeing...ok, to clarify further, i'm refering to the ball at the very,very top of the flag pole. and i really disagree with the urban legend thing, the only way that you are going to prove to me it's not true is to climb up a flag pole on a military post and take it off and see.

Answer 1

It is called a Truck, there used to contain one bullet, there is no service pistol, a razor blade used to cut the flag and a match to burn the flag. The service pistol is located at the base of the flag pole.
But all this is an Urban ledgend as mentioned above.

Answer 2

Are all of you nuts or what. I never saw so many incorrect answers, and crap like this before.

The top ball on the pole is called the Finial (it may be a ball, eagle or pike).
A truck is the part where the pulley is, the part used to raise the flag is.

There are 13 stars inside the Ball Finial. The only flag pole that has the Ball Finial is one mounted permanently and used to raise the bases colors everyday.

Smaller flag poles (that display the American Flag used for display indoors are to have a small eagle on top

Flag poles to be used in parades are to have a "pike" on top

Please, at least learn what my fellow vets died for and don't rely on morons for answers.

One last note: Not all Finials contain the 13 stars, only those in prominent places i.e Arlington Cemetery, The White House, The Capital building and others. The average flag pole Finial contains just air.

As to where the myth regarding the other items mentioned, that came from the "cold war" when we watched people build fall out shelters and feared a nuclear war with Russia.

Answer 3

The ball on the top of the flag pole is called a truck.

Urban legends state that there is anything from a bullet, a revolver, a match, a razor blade, and/or a penny contained inside.
The razor was used to cut the stripes off the flag before using the match to burn it preventing it from falling into enemy hands. The revolver and bullet were used to commit suicide after burning the flag. The penny represented wealth and that no matter what the US would never be broke.
In reality there is absolutely nothing contained inside the truck.

Answer 4

The ball is a finial, popularly referred to as a truck, and it contains nothing except air and an urban myth.

You do nothing with it.

_______________________________________________

You don't have to believe the truth, it will still be true. Perhaps you'd like to explain how the last few desperate troops on a US military post are supposed to retrieve the mythical items secreted away in the finial in order to use them? Ever met anyone who was trained to, or had any inclination to, spend the final moments of their life in useless gestures at the base of a flag pole when they could be either fighting or escaping? Doesn't pass the common sense test, does it?

Answer 5

here goes:
the ball on the top of the flagpole is called a truck, in it is a service revolver, a round of ammunition and a book of matches.
This is so the commander instead of surrendering his post to the enemy can instead take down the flag, burn it to prevent desecration, and commit suicide rather than be taken alive

Answer 6

Gunplumber is once again 100% correct.

But to better answer your question it contains: Air, air and more air.

Under no circumstance would a member of the military murder the Flag of the United States. (j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic
uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military
personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living
thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on
the left lapel near the heart.

SSG US Army 73-82

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2005]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 3, 2005 and March 20, 2006]
[CITE: 4USC8]


TITLE 4--FLAG AND SEAL, SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES

CHAPTER 1--THE FLAG

Sec. 8. Respect for flag

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of
America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing.
Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags
are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except
as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or
property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the
ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but
always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or
drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but
always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always
arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red
below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front
of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in
such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of
it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design,
picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving,
holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any
manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as
cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed
on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use
and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or
halyard from which the flag is flown.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic
uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military
personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living
thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on
the left lapel near the heart.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a
fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way,
preferably by burning.

(Added Pub. L. 105-225, Sec. 2(a), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1497.)

Answer 7

The top is call the truck and supposedly hold a service revolver, a bullet, and a book of matches. You can take down the flag and burn to prevent anyone from desecrating it, and then commit suicide instead of surrendering.

Answer 8

The ball is called a finial.
Theres a razor, a lighter and a flare inside.
The items are used to destroy the flag.

Answer 9

It is called a "Truck". Inside A bullet, a match and a needle are inside. The bullet is symbolic of never running out of ammo. The match is to burn the flag if being over run, and a needle is to sew the flag if it is ripped.