So who is responsible for the flag? It should be replaced.

I have written an email to Brian Bowen, State Natural Areas Program Administrator (brian.bowen@tn.gov)*. The House Mountain link I provided above lists his address as a link but clicking it doesn't open an email client, it merely takes you to a page that says everything has changed.

No answer as yet but I only sent the email today.

* KnoxViews translates his address properly of course.

At one time, Congressman Duncan's office maintained a budget to replace American flags at public places upon written request. I don't know if he still does.

Also, some Cub Scout/Boy Scout groups do the same, on a smaller scale and in just their own communities. Our group replaced a flag at Powell Elementary a couple of years back, for instance (and I found the best price locally to be through Allen's Signs in South Knox).

I wouldn't want a Cub Scout trying to replace that flag on House Mountain. It's in a pretty precarious location, it seems to be fastened to the pole itself, and there is no hoisting mechanism. The pole is bolted to a rock outcrop.

Just wrote to Congressman Duncan. Hopefully I will have a more positive answer than any other he has sent me.

I should have clarified that the Cubs/Boy Scouts may offer the replacement product, but not not always the replacement labor, ha ha.

Anyway, if you should decide to look into finding any replacement, also be aware that the Scouts accept discarded flags for proper retirement. Our group will sometimes retire (burn) multiple donated flags at campfire outings.

The county does the maintenance for House Mtn. From the state's webpage about House Mtn:

SITE MANAGEMENT:
Knox County Department of Parks and Recreation, 2447 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919, phone (865) 215-6600

Just got an answer to the email I sent to Brian Bowen:

Dear Ms. Redmond,

The flag at the top of House Mountain belongs to a private landowner on the north side of the mountain. The property on which the flag is displayed belongs to him, not to the state of Tennessee. Therefore, there is nothing we can do regarding the condition of the flag.

Sincerely,

Lisa Carol Huff

East TN Natural Areas
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Resource Management Division

Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas

3711 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921

I guess a visit to KGIS is next.

Not so fast, Rachel--I see that Michael Silence has linked Kenny's pix at his KNS blog, here.

Possibly the attention KNS can focus on this problem will compel some organization or individual other than the county to ante up a new flag?

Lotsa county cuts we're surviving in the current budget year, doncha know?!

Edit: Just caught your latest post, Kenny. Perhaps it's better those of us in the Northwest end of the county step aside and allow this private property owner's neighbors to politely suggest he replace his flag. Or possibly s/he will take note of the need at KnoxViews or in the KNS?

As near as I can tell from a visit to KGIS, the property owner lives on Freeland Drive in Corryton.