Why it's not a good idea to hang flags

[roadman]

to hang large flags above moving traffic lanes.

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/07/12/american-flag-flying-zakim-bridge-breaks-free-and-falls-onto-passing-car-causing-minor-crash/OkIZyDNLNs7UbjZ7lGMUUM/story.html

[froggie]

Shoulda done a better job of securing the flag.  If we're gonna worry about such things, maybe we should stop flying the flag on our US Navy ships underway, lest it break loose and catch fire over the exhaust funnels.

[1995hoo]

You'd think they'd have learned from the infamous incident in 1976 when that huge flag was hung from the Verrazano Bridge cables only to be shredded by the wind. I know this looks to have been a flagpole, but the principle is the same–big flags near busy roads require special precautions.

[cpzilliacus]

Shoulda done a better job of securing the flag.  If we're gonna worry about such things, maybe we should stop flying the flag on our US Navy ships underway, lest it break loose and catch fire over the exhaust funnels.

Exception - I don't think our Navy submarines fly a flag  (at least not when submerged ).

[Scott5114]

Shoulda done a better job of securing the flag.  If we're gonna worry about such things, maybe we should stop flying the flag on our US Navy ships underway, lest it break loose and catch fire over the exhaust funnels.

Difference there is that the US flag is a useful identifier that a ship belongs to the US Navy. You would know better than me, but I think there is some sort of maritime law requiring a flag to be flown.

There is no real overriding need to denote the Zakim bridge as a part of the United States.

[agentsteel53]

There is no real overriding need to denote the Zakim bridge as a part of the United States.

don't you know, if we stop saturating the US with the flag, the Mexicans are gonna take over and machine-gun-defecate anchor babies all over?

[Brandon]

There is no real overriding need to denote the Zakim bridge as a part of the United States.

don't you know, if we stop saturating the US with the flag, the Mexicans Canadians are gonna take over and machine-gun-defecate anchor babies all over?

FIFY. 

[Alps]

There is no real overriding need to denote the Zakim bridge as a part of the United States.

don't you know, if we stop saturating the US with the flag, the Mexicans Canadians are gonna take over and machine-gun-defecate anchor babies hockey players all over?

FIFY. 

FTFY