Battle over plans for the world's tallest flagpole, taller than the Empire State Building

Proposed flagpole above the Empire State Building

Plans to build the world's tallest flagpole have divided Columbia Falls, a small rural town to the north New England.

Freedom Flagpole supporters believe the project in the Maine wilderness will be a worthy tribute to the generations of soldiers who died for their country.

Opponents, however, expressed concerns about this scheme, fearing that it would spoil the pristine landscape. Critics dubbed this scheme «Dead Veterans' Disneyland».

The $2.2 billion project is the invention of the Wooster family, whose company makes wreaths and is also behind Wreaths Across America in memory of fallen soldiers.

It is based on a 1,461-foot flagpole, which is taller than than the Empire State. Building.

Visualization of the proposed flagpole view

Elevators will take tourists up to the observation deck, from which one could admire the view of state and Canada.

There will also be 55 walls of remembrance bearing the names of some 24 million soldiers who died in the service of the United States.

Then, overhead, there will be a six-mile-long gondola system carrying visitors along hiking trails, a theater, and a restaurant.

Liberty Flag Pole — The length of the flag is approximately one and a half football fields

«We want to unite Americans, remind them of the centuries of sacrifice made to defend our freedom, and unite a divided America,» said Morrill Wooster, whose family is behind the proposal.

But that's about it. a bit too much for Columbia Falls, a city of 475 most famous for its wild blueberries and lobster divers.

“This has been going on since January of last year. That's when we started hearing about the flagpole Liberty Park riots,” Jeff Green, a member of the local electoral council, told The Telegraph. feet.”

Liberty Flagstaff — Columbia Falls

Residents are stunned by the scale of the plan, which, if implemented, would create a city of 50,000 people due to all the housing needed for the workers. In March, they managed to approve a six-month moratorium on major developments that halted the flagpole scheme.

inflate the city to the size of 50,000 people. Photo: Robert F. Bucati/AP Freedom flagpole. How can the proposed flagpole compare in size to

“We voted for a moratorium, suspending the process in order to have a roadmap and prepare for a major project with wind farms, turbines and solar panels,” said Mr. Green.

“At the moment, we do not have the opportunity deal with it all. We know very little about the park; we don't even have a survey of the land they want to annex. Without any ordinance, this is very worrying.”

Residents such as Marie Emerson fear the plans will permanently change the city.

«It's a beautiful area, it's pristine and probably the last place on the US East Coast that hasn't been developed,» she said.

Resident Charlie Robbins opposes the theme park as he hunts and fishes in the area. Photo: Robert F. Bucati/AP The Pleasant River flows through Columbia Falls in Maine. Photo: Rodrik Ngovi/AP

“It's a nice, nice little town. Our wild blueberries have been growing here for over 10,000 years. We are very proud of our harvest. This is a very special area. Washington County produces 90 percent of the wild blueberries in the US. This is a natural phenomenon. This is vital to our ecosystem.

“When you say 50,000 employees are moving to a city of 400, it's amazing. We would have to think about these jobs and all the people we would have to attract, how we would place them and send their children to school.”

“It's like putting the Eiffel Tower in the Maine desert. » said Charlie Robbins, a retired transport worker. “I hunt and fish in the area. I don't like crowds. It's a bit selfish, but that's how I feel.»

Morrill Wooster, whose company Wreaths Across America is behind the plans

The Wooster family is respected in the city, and supporters are asking questions of those who oppose the proposed memorial to America's fallen heroes.

But Mrs. Emerson disagrees. “We are very patriotic; my husband's uncle was one of the first to die in World War I. My dad had a Purple Heart and whistled a musical medley for the military.

“In terms of patriotism, Washington County has the highest enlistment rate in the state.

“Is No? Isn't it American to want to protect our pristine wilderness?»

The Telegraph contacted the Wooster family, who declined to comment.