Sons of Confederate Veterans Raise Battle Flag
Zach Brake/special to the Herald Courier
The 19th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry fire a volley during Saturday’s flag dedication ceremony in Bristol, Tenn.
BY CLAIRE GALOFARO
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
The Sons of Confederate Veterans raised a confederate battle flag Saturday evening in Bristol, Tenn. The 25-by-15-foot banner was hoisted on a 70-foot pole on a hillside in clear view of Interstate 81 – to serve as a monument and memory to those who fought on behalf of the South.
“You can’t get the real history from a text book,” said David Roberts, who organized Saturday’s event and spearheaded project to install the flag.
“The ones that won got to write the book,” Roberts said. “But we know it’s different and that’s what we’ve got to teach our children. God bless Dixie and may this flag ever
wave.”
About 200 people gathered for the ceremony, semi-circled around the pole on top of a hillside several hundred above the interstate. A dozen or so men dressed as confederate soldiers and among them was a black man named H.K. Edgerton.
“The most discriminated against person in America is the Christian Southern white man,” said Edgerton, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and a former president of the NAACP’s Asheville, N.C. branch.
Edgerton also said he enjoys “whipping Yankees.”
“This place should be full of black folks,” Edgerton said. “I don’t know why [I’m the only one here]. Maybe your newspaper should have told them to come to celebrate and sing Dixie and salute our flag. It’s a shame white folks and black folks make people think this is an evil flag. This is a southern flag. You can’t attack this flag and call yourself a southerner. You can call yourself a traitor.”
Edgerton delivered his comments with the conviction of a preacher, in an impromptu address to the crowd. His adoring fans reciprocated with hoots and thunderous applause.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is an national organization dedicated to protecting the honor of their ancestors. All are great-great-somethings of a confederate soldier, and they look to the flag as a symbol of that fight.
To many others the Confederate flag is America’s most contentious symbol, likened to a swastika in hateful significance.
“It’s been hijacked by hate groups,” Roberts said. “We are in no way aligned with anyone who uses the flag our ancestors fought and died for, for purposes of hate or intimidation. These groups have also denigrated the U.S. flag and the Christian flag and make it very hard at times for us to honor our relatives without a negative response from the general public who have no idea about our organization.”
The pre-raising ceremony Saturday included opening remarks and many who attended exchanged certificates of appreciation. Among the presenters was Sheila Hunt, director of the Sullivan County Archives and Tourism, who offered the gratitude of the mayor of Sullivan County.
Fittingly, Roberts dedicated the rebel flag to those who resent it: teachers who don’t allow children to wear it on their clothing; politicians who disassociate themselves from it; and a man who removed one from an Alabama cemetery.
Edgerton, flanked by several young boys, unveiled the giant flag, and the onlookers – five rows deep – clapped and chanted as it made its way up the pole. It hung quietly for several seconds, with audible anticipation below. Then the wind blew.
“There she goes!” Digital cameras buzzed open. “Oh, isn’t it beautiful,” one woman cried. “Another great day in Dixie,” shouted a man. “Thank you Jesus,” said another.
Then everyone sang Dixie and caught a ride down the hill.
“I represent four and a half million black folks who’ve been beat down and would love to be here, too,” Edgerton said. “If they tell you they wouldn’t be, the first thing you ask is where they’re from. Then you tell them to go on back.”
John Harrison, the former head of the Kingsport chapter of the NAACP, does not share such enthusiasm for the Confederate flag.
“I am not endeared by that flag,” Harrison said. “Sometimes people do these things to see a knee-jerk reaction. And I really wish they wouldn’t. When I see it, I ignore it the best I can. I don’t challenge, because that’s just what they want.”
A Friday call and an e-mail to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People were not returned. Saturday calls to other local chapters of the NAACP also were not immediately returned.
“I don’t plan to protest or write letters.” Harrison said. “That just moves their agenda to the forefront, like when three or four members of the Klan march they bring a lot of attention. I’m just going to go on past it. I’ve got better things to do. But that’s just me.”
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Reader Reactions
Freedomman
We won a great victory for our ancestors tonight in Jonesborough. There will be Confederate bricks on that memorial.
(General Lee)You make me laugh even when your not agreeing with me:)
The S.C.V. has a lot to offer those who have the ability to reason and think for themselves. Check out our websites and do your own research. Try the books The Day Dixie Died by Thomas and Debra Goodrich, The Real Lincoln by Thomas J. DiLorenzo and War Crimes Against Southern Civilians by Walter Brian Cisco. The Confederate Battle Flag honors both black and white veterans who fought for the South. Did you know black Union troops were paid at a lower scale than white. Confederate black soldiers were paid on the same scale as their white compatriots! The debate between North vs South will continue because some of us just won’t accept the falsehoods told about the South and its reason for secession. As far as I am concerned, the First Amendment to the Constitution gives the ancestors of Confederate veterans the right to honor their ancestors the same as other groups defend their organizations, customs or causes. Did you know the Constitution is really a “Southern document”? I understand a legal ruling will be made in Jonesborough today about whether to allow Confederate veterans be honored at their memorial site there. I hope it is the right one.
Member S.C.V., and proudly so!
thank you confederate soldiers who died for what was right and for what you and the south believed in. may this flag fly forever as a symbol against tyranny, communism, and the disgusting yankees who are trying to impose socialism on the nation today! those who have ruined our schools in the south, perverted our culture and tried to suffocate out the great southern culture and freedom we love so much. maybe one day they will get total communism and government control over everything, like they desire, but it wont last long, thanks god!
Thank you Sons of Confederate Veterans.
All over the South we are faced every day with hatred of our Heritage and Culture. Their ignorance is appalling. I am Sick to Death of it, and we should not let it stand. This hatred all started with the jihad by the naacp in 1991. They and their media pals made this an issue. Confederate Southern Americans should be included in any hate crime bill.
NAACP 1991 Resolution
VII. INTERNAL AFFAIRS
1. Resolution abhorring the Confederate Battle Flag on State Flags
Approved:
WHEREAS, the tyrannical evil symbolized in the Confederate Battle Flag is an abhorrence to all Americans and decent people of this country, and indeed the world and is an odious blight upon the universe; and,
WHEREAS, African-Americans, had no voice, no consultation, no concurrence, no commonality, not in fact nor in philosophy, in the vile conception of the Confederate Battle Flag or State Flags containing the ugly symbol of idiotic white supremacy, racism and denigration; and,
WHEREAS, we adamantly reject the notion that African-Americans should accept this flag for any stretch of the imagination or approve its presence on State Flags;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the national office of the NAACP and all units commit their legal resources to the removal of the Confederate Flag from all public properties.“
Not all black people see the Confederate Flag as evil. Google Walter William, Thomas Sowell, Elizabeth Wright, Bob Harrison, Nelson Wimbish and H. K. Edgerton and educate yourselves.
I attended the Confederate flag raising and I wish Mr. Harrison of the NAACP had also attended. If he had, he would not have made the statements he did regarding why the flag was raised. The flag honours all those of the South who endured the horrors of war and reconstruction. This includes people of all races and creeds.
The prayers, speeches, and songs make it clear that the only reaction that is desired is one of reverence and thanksgiving. We seek to further the truth about history. I would hope that Mr. Harrison will attend the next such event with an open mind and an open heart.
Support for this project came from near and far. Congratulations the the men of the Lt. Robert D. Powell Camp, Vaughn’s Brigade, and the Tennessee Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans for a fine event in furthering truth in history and honouring the sacrifices of those patriots who came before.
Deo vindice
i thing thingthink the flag showing was the best thing ihave read about lately thank god for the flag pole bless the powel camp for my dad is member an comander in sscv in abington
If you aren’t happy with the politics, people, and history of the South, please move away. Ever since your carpetbagging, Yankee relatives invaded our fair land, it just hasn’t been the same.
The only reason Lincoln freed slaves is so that it would potentially disrupt life behind the lines, just like Sherman burning his way to the sea. Slavery is a bad thing, and those people should not have had to go through that, but it was accepted by all of America at that time. We reject it now, but isn’t it sad that the Yankees forced this label of Southern Pride=Pro Slavery? You are believing their rhetoric. Southern Pride is really just being proud of our heritage, of fighting the WAR OF NORTHERN AGRESSION. Oh yeah, and hating Yankees. If you ever met one, you know where we’re coming from.
I post in several different newswebs, often sparring with those who have different views to mine. Differences are what makes comments interesting. I sincerely appreciate all who post with the vaired veiw points. Life would be so boring if everyone had the same philosophy.
craevoju,
You are cherry picking a few things to try and make your point, when truth is, there are many valid points that have been stated here. Quite frankly, you are the one that is demonstrating ignorance. As for “cutting in line”, you word it like it was a one time thing. All anyone needs to do is go to Wal Mart and observe this regularity. As for your broad brush painting of people not being happy with their lives, I would encourage you to examine your own heart. I know of some folks that have started out as cashiers and ended up as store managers. I would confidently venture to say that your income, respect, and responsibility are inferior to that of a store manager at Wal Mart. As for your shot at me, I am the owner of three businesses (currently) that have all employed blacks. I know first hand that two of my better employees were black, one was terrible and fired and the other was great and promoted to management. I really think you need to get out more and keep your eyes wide open. We really do have some racial/social issues that the only cure would be to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. As for your comments on BET and Miss Black America and many other celebrations, I can assure you, sir, that there would be rioting in the streets if white folks tried the same programs in reverse. I am speaking from experience here. As a young Marine in the late sixties and early seventies, I was ordered to many riot scenes with orders of to “shoot to kill”. That was the results of MLK Jr and RFK assassinations. I don’t have all the answers, but I have had many experiences and continue to study history to bring me to a certain level of understanding. You really should go back and visit some history lessons. You, like many on these forums lead others completely off subject. Were we talking about the south’s Battle Flag?
History lesson #1
How many Rebel flags were flown total and why is the one in question the one that was chosen?
Blessings,
Mike Graham
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