By DOTTY NIST
The Confederate battle flag has been removed from the pole next to the Civil War memorial on the grounds of the Walton County Courthouse. Following a decision of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), plans are for the 13-star first national flag of the Confederacy to replace the battle flag next to the memorial for Walton County’s Civil War dead.
After being flown next to the memorial since 1964, the battle flag has been put under the care of the Walton County Heritage Museum in DeFuniak Springs. A 13-star first national flag of the Confederacy is on order, and in the meantime a slightly-earlier seven-star version that the county was able to obtain is being flown on the flagpole.
The role of “decider” on the question whether to remove the battle flag fell to the BCC when the commissioners met on July 28 at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs. The meeting followed over a month of debate and controversy in the community on the matter, accompanied by a number of petition drives.
The first county commission discussion on the issue had been on July 14, when Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder made the official request to the BCC for the battle flag to be taken down. This had been just short of four weeks after the arrest in South Carolina of suspect Dylann Roof in connection the murder of nine African Americans in a Charleston church, with Roof having appeared waving a Confederate flag on a web site that officials had confirmed to be under his ownership.
After hearing arguments from Uhlfelder and a few other people about the matter on July 14, the commissioners had put off a decision in order to have time to read written material presented to them at that meeting by parties on both sides of the issue.
The July 28 BCC meeting was one of the most crowded in recent memory. In addition to local citizens, there was representation from the NAACP and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, both from Walton County and from elsewhere in the region.
Four of the five Walton County commissioners were present, with District 2 Commissioner Cecilia Jones absent. “She has a prior commitment,” Walton County Commission Chairman Bill Imfeld stated.
Walton County Administrator Larry Jones began discussion on the issue by listing a number of options, including leaving the battle flag in place, flying as it has done historically, removing it, putting the issue on a voter referendum, or replacing the flag with the original flag of the Confederate States of America combined with turning the current flag over to the Walton County Heritage Museum. He noted that there could be other options as well.
Located on the southwest side of the courthouse grounds, the Confederate memorial dates back to 1871. An April 16, 1964, DeFuniak Herald article reported on the county commissioners’ decision to begin flying the Confederate flag on a pole next to the monument at that time. Few details are available on that commission decision over 50 years ago to add the flag.
At the July 28 meeting, Walton County District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander spoke of the blood shed by ancestors of county residents that has “enriched” the soil, whether or not one agrees with what those soldiers believed in, fought and died for.
“I want to honor those who came before us, but I also want to be cognizant of those that the current flag seems to offend,” she said.
The “current flag” was a replica of a Confederate naval jack. Confederate naval jacks were among the battle flags used by Confederate troops during the Civil War. After the Civil War, flags of this type were also used by extremists, including segregationists, white supremacists, and groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
“We can only stop hate within ourselves…We all need to work together for a better Walton County,” Comander continued.
Comander moved for approval of the fourth option mentioned by Jones, replacement of the current flag with the first national flag of the Confederacy, specifying the 13-star version, and placement of the current flag in the Walton County Heritage Museum. Her motion was seconded for discussion by District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman, who noted that some form of compromise was needed and that the BCC needed to come to a consensus “today.”
As public comment was taken, some attendees gave their opinion on the compromise detailed in Comander’s motion and some focused on their views on the battle flag, its meaning, use and display. One by one, over 40 people in attendance made their way forward to address the commissioners, with public comment continuing for two hours and about twice as many the speakers’ opinions toward the Confederate flag negative as compared with favorable opinions.
Among those speaking in favor of the first Confederate States of America flag compromise were Danny Glidewell, Russell Brown, and Betty Letcher.
Glidewell, a Glendale resident formerly employed by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and as Walton County Corrections Director, called the compromise “fair.” He noted that Walton County representatives had voted against secession but that when the Civil War came, county residents had fought to protect their homes and families. “They deserve to be remembered and honored,” he said.
Glidewell speculated that the flag may have been added next to the memorial in 1964 to enhance the monument, as the commissioners had also asked the state to add a historical marker for it at that time, or that the action may have been in observation of the centennial of the end of the Civil War.
Brown, a sixth-generation Walton County resident whose ancestors ‘ names are on the memorial monument, said, “I do like the compromise.”
“We have right to remember our soldiers… they gave it all,” Brown told the commissioners.
Calling the first official flag the “true flag” of the Confederacy, Inlet Beach resident Betty Letcher commented, “I truly believe that what Commissioner Comander is recommending would be the right thing.”
However, Steve Uhlfelder, father of Daniel Uhlfelder, who could not attend, rejected the compromise. “Replace it with nothing, just be proud of the American flag,” he urged. Uhlfelder noted that over 2,000 signatures had been collected on a petition calling for the Confederate flag to be taken down.
“We do not need any Confederate flag on public property,” agreed Margaret Leonard. Leonard maintained that the Civil War was fought for slavery and that the Confederate flag represents slavery.
Dale Landry of the NAACP Tallahassee Branch discussed the history of the battle flag and its use by the Night Riders who used it in connection with the intimidation of black citizens after the Civil War, along with its use by segregationists during the Jim Crow era. He charged that the flag incites violence. The compromise, Landry urged, should be to use the American flag.
Walton County resident Shelia Grimes told of her growing-up years as a black student in the county. She recalled standing up with other students against the display of the Confederate flag in her school, resulting in many of them being expelled. The flag was taken down from her school to restore peace and harmony, she commented. Grimes urged the commissioners not to compromise but instead, in the interest of peace and harmony, to remove the Confederate flag from the courthouse grounds.
“We need to honor our ancestors,” DeFuniak Springs resident Casey Nelson told the commissioners. She noted that 2,370 signatures had been collected in favor of keeping the battle flag. Nelson emphasized that the effort to keep the flag had nothing to do with race.
“Everyone has an opinion, and everyone is entitled to our opinion,” 27-year-old Walton County native Justin Hammond observed.
“I believe in equality for all people,” Hammond stated.
Hammond was organizer for the Southern Pride Drive, a July 25 event in which a convoy of dozens of vehicles displaying the Confederate flag drove from Paxton to Miramar Beach. He told the commissioners that he displays the Confederate flag proudly and that to him it represents “all the good things about Dixie.”
Everyone should not be punished because a small number of “ignorant people” misused the Confederate flag, he maintained, referring to extremists.
Hammond said that, if nothing else, it was his hope that disrespect of Confederate monuments would cease.
County resident Jillian Wolfe was of the opinion that the Confederate flag should not be on courthouse property but also said that it should not be “buried.” She urged for preserving history, both the good and bad. If history is “picked apart,” soon it will be gone, Wolfe observed.
Wolfe said her family owns the property in Eucheeanna where the previous county courthouse stood and where the Confederate monument stood before the county seat was moved to DeFuniak Springs. She offered the property as a site for the monument and flag if this was the desire of the county.
The commissioners did not respond to the offer. However, the next speaker, Maria Milton, called the offer “a true compromise.” Calling the battle flag racist “by definition,” Milton called for it to come down—but added that if its removal is not accompanied by change in people’s hearts and minds, the flag might as well continue to fly.
“My people died too,” resident and former military member Charles Williams told the commissioners, “they didn’t die on the cross but they was hung on a tree,”
He said of the Confederate flag, “put it on your bedspread, put it in your window, but to put it outside I don’t think is a good idea.”
Steve Lassiter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans said he agreed with both sides, as both had reasons for their beliefs. He spoke of the Confederate flag, the Stars and Stripes, the Maple Leaf and the Mexican flag. “They’re all American flags,” he said. Lassiter warned that taking down a flag would not solve problems.
With no more citizens requesting to come forward, Comander commented that no one has control over what happened 150 years ago or even in 1964. “I represent 57,000 people who live in this county…I have to rule on what I believe the majority want to do,” she said. Comander acknowledged that there were alternatives, including Wolfe’s offer and the suggestion that the county put the flag question on a referendum.
Chapman commented that, judging from his research, it was his opinion that the flag was put in opposition to the Civil Rights Act. The Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson in July 1964.
Chapman’s suggestion was to remove the battle flag, since from all indications it had not originally accompanied the monument, and give the flag a place of honor at the museum. He withdrew his earlier second to Comander’s motion and made a motion in favor of the actions he had just outlined.
Imfeld relinquished the gavel to second Chapman’s motion for discussion.
He observed that many good and heartfelt points had been made by speakers. “I can only thank everyone who stood up to speak,” he said.
Imfeld commented that Walton County should not be a place of oppression, or where anyone is held to a different standard, and that his hope was to do come to a decision that was best for all citizens.
“This is probably the worst day of my commission career,” District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows stated. She said she had prayed about the issue and stayed up nights thinking about it. “I look at all of you as brothers and sisters…,” she told those present, “I hate that the world is a sinful place.”
“This issue has been advanced to advance an agenda,” Meadows asserted. She urged for citizens to not be pushed into fighting each other and remembering the “horrid things” that people had done to each other in times past.
She called for a compromise as best representing the community, saying that anything else would be “kowtowing” to those who had conspired to divide residents.
Meadows transferred the gavel back to Imfeld in order to second Comander’s original motion in favor of replacement of the current flag with the first national flag of the Confederacy. Imfeld then withdrew his second to Chapman’s motion.
The vote was taken, with all four commissioners voting for Meadows’ motion in favor of the change to the first national flag of the Confederacy.
It is anticipated that the 13-star version of the flag will be in place within a couple of weeks.
