How windy was it yesterday? It was so windy that an antique metal eagle atop a flagpole on the Capitol’s west side took flight, plummeting seven stories to the north lawn. No one was hurt in the 5 p.m. incident. The bird (left, photo by Dixon) was retrieved by security personnel who heard the crash. The light, hollow eagle with a wingspan of about four feet, has traces of gold paint left by decades of wind and weather. It seems to be made of tin or copper. There’s evidence of metal fatigue, with a large hole in the middle of the bird’s back where it apparently slipped over the finial ball at the top of the staff that flies the Connecticut flag. It’s head was crushed during the brief flight. Below is another version of an old flagpole raptor, now kept captive in a Capitol display case.
Those who wish to find a metaphor with John G. Rowland’s most-recent felony sentencing – 30 months in federal prison this time for the disgraced former governor- are free to do so now.
