What is used to hoist a flag?

The correct answer, a halyard, is a rope or line used specifically for raising and lowering flags on a flagpole. It provides the necessary support and control needed to hoist the flag smoothly and securely. When the halyard is pulled, it allows the flag to ascend or descend the flagpole smoothly, making it an essential component of the flag-raising process.

While a flagpole is the structure on which the flag is displayed, it does not perform the action of hoisting. A grommet is a reinforced hole or edge in the flag through which the halyard may pass, but it is not what is used to hoist the flag itself. A pulley system can assist in the operation of the halyard by providing mechanical advantage, but the halyard remains the critical component for directly raising and lowering the flag. Thus, the halyard is the primary instrument used in this process.