Front Street’s new flagpole has been put in place to honour the memory of Hamilton’s long-serving Councillor and Alderman, Roderick Alexander Ferguson II.Proud son Roderick Ferguson III surveyed the new pole, erected on Sunday, which will be furnished with a harbourside bronze plaque in about four weeks.Manufactured by Florida’s Regal Flags and Poles, the new structure is built to last 60 to 80 years — twice as long as its predecessor, Mr Ferguson said.“It’s stronger,” he added. “The old one was rated for 80mph winds, but this is rated for 140mph — but only if it doesn’t have the flag on it.”No flag has been hoisted yet on the new pole. Mr Ferguson covered the bill, along with sister Diane Wilkie and Janette MacDonald, as a testament to their father’s service as Common Councillor from 1965 to 1972, and Alderman from 1972 to 1985.“The Corporation had already ordered the flag before we got involved,” he said. “When we read about it in the newspaper, we thought, what about paying for the new pole in memory of our father?”The elder Ferguson was “enthused” by his time at the Corporation, which he enjoyed perhaps even more than his career with wholesalers Purvis Ltd, his son recalled.The family’s involvement with the replacement, which could cost up to $30,000, has also proven educational.“I always thought the stand and the flagpole faced directly up Burnaby Street, but you can see it’s at a little bit of an angle,” Mr Ferguson pointed out. “I must have driven past it a thousand times without realising that.”According to a City spokeswoman, the old flagpole has been kept, and the City of Hamilton will use pieces of it as needed. A ceremony is planned for the placing of the memorial plaque, Mr Ferguson said.“I was reminiscing that one of the duties of a prefect at Saltus was to raise the flag,” he added. “Maybe I will get to raise the first.”