<p>Towering over northeast Georgia, the worlds tallest freestanding flagpole could be built as the centerpiece for a proposed veterans memorial park.</p><p>The flagpole and park would be built using money from public donations and the sale of bricks and pavers for a series of walls and paths at the park. The U.S. Armed Forces Tribute Foundation Inc. plans to buy the land for its Americas Tribute park in Oglethorpe County.</p><p>The flagpole someday could stand 550 feet tall _ nearly 250 feet taller than a flagpole in Texas that the builder says can be seen 20 miles away.</p><p>It would take six months to build. Once finished, it would take between seven and 10 minutes to raise the enormous flag to the top, according to Flags USA of Fort Worth, Texas, the company that would construct the flagpole.</p><p>The pole would be 9 feet thick at ground level and anchored to a 60-foot foundation. It would narrow to 2 feet in diameter where a warning beacon flashes at the top, said Bo Greene, spokesman for Flags USA.</p><p>It would tower 136 feet higher than the worlds current tallest freestanding pole _ a 414-foot tower in Jordan in the Middle East. The worlds tallest flagpole is in Panmunjom, North Korea. Its 525 feet tall but is attached to a structure similar to a radio tower and is not considered a freestanding flagpole.</p><p>Im doing this for my father and my brother. Im doing this for my children and my grandchildren, said Sam Hurst, director of the U.S. Armed Forces Tribute Foundation. If we want something done for our loved ones, we have to do it ourselves.</p><p>Atop the steel pole would fly a gigantic flag, but how big hasnt been decided, Hurst said.</p><p>A 60-by-120-foot flag would cost $75,000, and the foundation plans to go bigger than that.</p><p>Hurst is still gathering money and supporters to help make the project a reality.</p><p>Ill never get paid one dime out of this project, she said. Im doing this from my heart. Nobody on the board will get a salary. One-hundred percent of the donations will be going toward funding this park.</p><p>The 1,000 to 1,400 acres for the park will likely be bought from Timberland Harvesters of Eufaula, Ala., for about $2 million, officials said.</p><p>The Federal Aviation Administration would have to approve of the tower before its built to make sure its not a danger to aircraft, said Athens-Ben Epps Airport Manager Tim Beggerly.</p><p>Information from: Athens Banner-Herald</p>
