urban legends ✓

tale of the truck ☹

Ever wonder what was inside on the ball atop American flagpoles? If tall tales are to be believed, the ball (or "truck") of the flagpole contains a bullet, rice, and a match (other versions also specify a razor). Supposedly, the three items are to be used to prevent the enemy from getting their hands on the flag. The soldier assigned for this monumental task must eat the rice for energy and use the match (or razor) to destroy the flag. As for the bullet, the soldier would use it to kill himself either to avoid captured or as punishment for destroying the flag.

Where did this urban legend all start? According to sources, the ball was installed during the Cold War when Americans constantly feared a potential Soviet invasion. Intriguingly, this urban legend ignores that balls atop flagpoles were in vogue long before the Soviets ever came into the picture.