Did you know that on top of the flag pole that is out infront of every government building (and ontop of the white house and on military bases) there is a ball. And the ball is made to break into 13 peices when dropped, to represent the 13 original colonies. And inside that ball you will find a book of matches, and a .45 caliber bullet. This is so the last standing officer can burn the flag, and load the last .45 caliber bullet into his pistol and shoot himself. The reason for this is because the United States officers have swore to defend the United States of America until they die. So During battle, if the base is being over run, the officer is supposed to use the book of matches to quickly burn the flag, to prevent the enemy from taking the flag and winning the war, and then he loads the last .45 caliber bullet into his pistol, and carries out his promise of defending the United States. The reason he kills himself is because American officers are not allowed to surrender a military base.