The 17th Connecticut’s monument on Barlow’s Knoll. The flagpole in the left background, which we believe is the original wooden flagpole, was erected as an additional memorial to the regiment.Property/survey markers appear in the bottom right of this William Tipton photograph. This image was taken facing northeast circa 1903-1920.

If you’ve visited Barlow’s Knoll before, you’ve likely encountered a flagpole without any flags.The monument to the 153rd Pennsylvania Infantry is on the right. Francis Channing Barlow is on the left. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

The 17th Connecticut’s granite monument at Barlow’s Knoll was dedicated on July 1, 1884.This image was taken facing north on June 24, 1884.

It was dedicated without a flagpole.This image was taken facing northwest circa 1900. [LOC]

A wooden pole was erected by the surviving veterans of the 17th Connecticut sometime between the monument’s dedication and 1903. On July 1, 1903, a 65-foot* steel flagpole was raised in place of the wooden one. That flagpole is the one you see today. The flag of the United States of America was flown from the flagpole on July 1, 2013, for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. But putting up and taking down the flag each day is not something the National Park Service at Gettysburg is going to do on their own.*The newspaper article in the Gettysburg Compiler quotes the height of the pole as 65 feet. The NPS’ Classified Structures only gives the pole 55 feet in height. This image was taken facing northwest at 3:22 PM on July 1, 2013 [NPS].

When we saw the flag flying on May 1st we were pleasantly surprised. But who was behind it?This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:00 PM on Monday, May 1, 2017.

Gettysburg Daily reader Thomas Sullivan (right) and his friend Jim White (left), presenting a flag that they flew on the 17th Connecticut Memorial Flagpole at Barlow’s Knoll to Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy (center). Thomas is from Connecticut. He flies the United States and Connecticut State flag from the flagpole at Barlow’s Knoll twice a year as part of Gettysburg National Military Park’s Adopt-A-Position program.This image is courtesy of Thomas Sullivan and is circa 2011-2017.

The 17th Connecticut Infantry flagpole as it appeared in the early 2000s. The flagpole and nearby cannon carriage were both rusted and deteriorating.The telephone poles in the background are along the Old Harrisburg Road (Bus. 15) though at the time this photo was taken, the North Gettysburg Trail did not exist. This image was taken facing east circa the early 2000s. | (c) The Barbara Adams Photo Collection

The flagpole was painted in 2002…This image was taken facing northeast circa the 2000s. | (c) The Barbara Adams Photo Collection

…but like almost all structures within the park, it requires upkeep. Thomas and Jim have inquired about getting a new paint job funded and completed.The 17th Connecticut’s Barlow’s Knoll monument is located out of focus in the right background. This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 2:00 PM on Monday, May 1, 2017.