Flagpole of Freedom Park facts for kids
The Flagpole of Freedom Park is a big project planned for Columbia Falls, Maine. It aims to be a special place to honor all veterans in the United States. This park is being created for the United States Semiquincentennial, which is America's 250th birthday in 2026.
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What is the Flagpole of Freedom Park?
The Worcester family, who also run Wreaths Across America, came up with the idea for this park. Their goal is to honor about 24 million veterans. They plan to write each veteran's name on 55 special memorial walls. This would make it the only place in the country to honor all U.S. veterans in one spot. The Worcesters say it would be like having 411 Vietnam Wall Memorials combined.
The World's Tallest Flagpole
A major part of the park is a giant flagpole. It will be 1,461 feet tall, which is seven feet taller than the Empire State Building. This would make it the tallest flagpole in the world! Inside the flagpole, there will be an elevator. The flagpole will stand on a 315-foot hill, making its total height above sea level 1,776 feet. One of the observation decks, called the "Observation Ball," will offer amazing 360-degree views for up to 100 miles. The flag itself will be bigger than a football field, making it the world's largest flag. This first part of the project is planned to open on July 4, 2026.
Other Park Features
The park will have many other things to see and do:
- An amphitheater that can hold 4,000 people for concerts and shows.
- Hiking trails for summer fun. In winter, these trails can be used for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing.
- "The Village of Old Glory" will have restaurants, shops, and a hotel.
- Six "Halls of History" will be living history museums. They will also have cool, modern exhibits using technology.
The Worcesters say that 90% of the park will be free for everyone to visit. Only special events at the theater and the museums will require tickets.
Project Vision and Location
The idea for this park has been in the works for 13 years. The Worcesters believe it will be even more meaningful than a national park. They first thought the project would create 8,000 jobs, but now they expect about 3,000 jobs during construction. Once finished, it could have around 12,000 full-time employees. They even plan to build housing for construction workers that will later become vacation rentals.
The park will be built on 2,500 acres of balsam forest in Maine. This land is currently used by Worcester Wreaths, which makes garlands for Wreaths Across America. The location is about an hour and a half from Bangor and the Canadian border. The Worcesters chose this spot because it's on the flight paths for planes flying overseas. They say it will be "the last flag that they’ll see" when leaving and "the first flag they’ll see when they come home." Local leaders like Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner and state senator Marianne Moore are excited about the project. They believe it will bring many new opportunities and fit well into the community.
Funding the Park
The Flagpole of Freedom Park is a $1 billion project. It is set up as a for-profit company, not a nonprofit. It will get its first money from private donations, ranging from $600 to $1,800. Donors will get lifetime access to the park and have their names on the memorial walls. The Worcesters have promised to return donations if the project isn't at least 25% funded within a year. The park is expected to bring in about $27 million in tax money each year.
Details about the project were first shared publicly on March 29, 2022, at a press conference in the Augusta Civic Center.
Reactions to the Park
People have had different opinions about the Flagpole of Freedom Park. News Center Maine said the plan has received "praise, curiosity, and criticism."
Common Criticisms
One common concern is that the large amount of money being raised could be used to directly help veterans instead. Rob Worcester responded by saying that the park would support other veteran causes with its profits, rather than competing with them.
Charles Kniffen, a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, wrote an article criticizing the project. He felt it was "an affront" and an attempt to make money. He believed "a giant flagpole marring the beauty of our land...is no honor" for veterans.
Andrew Carleen, a U.S. Navy veteran, also criticized the project. He called it "a masterstroke of ostentatiousness," meaning it was overly showy. He compared it to the simple and powerful Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He felt the park's design was too much and called the overuse of the flag "a child’s definition of patriotism."
Images for kids
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Animation of the United States Flag. The proposed park would include a 1.5 football field-sized flag perched on a 1,461-foot flagpole.
