Julie McCombs
One of the last views of the Confederate flag before it was removed from the South Carolina State House grounds.
The Confederate flag, in a dignified ceremony, was lowered from the 30-foot flagpole, which had kept it aloft over the Confederate Soldiers Monument at the front of the State House grounds since 2000. It was the first time since 1961 that the flag had not flown on the capitol grounds. It will never do so again.
The move was hailed by many as a step towards equality for all races in South Carolina. It followed less than a month the killing of nine parishioners at Mother Emanuel AME Church by alleged gunman Dylann Roof on June 17 in Charleston.
Still, others denounced the flag’s removal as disrespect towards the heritage and history of South Carolina and to the Confederate soldiers, recognized as United States veterans by the government, who fought and died for the South in the Civil War.
All those in attendance Friday remained mostly respectful to each other, allowing the ceremonial removal to take place in dignity and peace.
Reactions were mixed on this historical day.
"It's sad that somebody had to die," Ernest Lee of Charleston said, as he held a hand-painted portrait of the “Charleston Nine” from Mother Emanuel. "Nine people had to die for them to make a change. They should have brought it down. It should have never been up. It should have been in a museum. Had they done that this would probably never be going on."
Others pointed to history, stating that the flag is not a symbol of hatred, but of remembrance for the Confederate and American dead.
"It's sad that you have a small percentage of Americans who might take that banner and twist it for a negative cause but I'm not going to let that wipe away the true history and heritage that it represents," Larry Oberstar, a Columbia resident, said.
"That square battle flag is the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia that many South Carolinian soldiers marched under in battle with Robert E. Lee. The state, in the year 2000, felt it appropriate to place it here and it became a part of this memorial that we have to the Confederate soldiers."
There were those in attendance who supported the flag's removal despite having family members who fought and died for the Confederacy.
"That flag stands for bigotry and racism," Tom Clements, a Savannah River Nuclear Site employee, said. Clements, from New Ellenton, said three great-great-great uncles perished fighting for the Confederacy.
"Since I was about 12 years old I've felt that the flag shouldn't be used in a public way like this. I've been out here about 20 days, every day, morning, afternoon, and other times as much as I can. We've helped people express their opinions, blowing their horns, and the response has been absolutely tremendous."
Oberstar left a burning question to ponder. "What other memorials to American soldiers will we look at in a different light?"