Confederate group plans giant flag in Hillsborough County

TAMPA — Next year, a giant Confederate flag may tower above the tree line near the junction of Interstate 75 and Interstate 4.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans wants drivers in the Tampa area to see the massive flag — 30 feet high and 50 feet long — atop a 139-foot pole, the highest the Federal Aviation Authority would allow. It would be lit at night.

With the pole already in the ground and building permits in hand, the group is on its way to having what it calls the "world's largest" Confederate flag in place by mid 2009. The group just needs about $30,000 more, said Douglas Dawson, Florida division commander.

Several nearby business owners don't mind. It's history, they say, and it's on private property. Tampa resident Marion Lambert owns the small triangular plot just west of Interstate 75 along U.S. 92 E.

But when Hillsborough County NAACP president Curtis Stokes heard about the plans to have the flag flying next year, he was shocked.

"I'm surprised that they would allow something like this to go on in Hillsborough County," he said.

The county has wrestled with sensitive Confederate issues in the past. In 1994, the Confederate flag was removed from the county seal. Last year, county commissioners recognized Confederate commander Robert E. Lee on the same day they honored a black civic leader. Commissioners later apologized and haven't since recognized Lee.

It's the commissioners' responsibility to make sure plans don't move forward, Stokes said. The flag would send the wrong message about the county and it would be embarrassing because many visitors use the roads, he said.

Code enforcement officers won't be able to stop the project because flags were removed from county sign regulations in 2004. County Commissioner Kevin White, whose district includes the flagpole site, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Plans for the flag, which is part of a memorial for Confederate veterans, started about four years ago, said John W. Adams, a Deltona resident who co-chairs the Confederate Veterans' Flags Across Florida project.

Flags Across Florida started about eight years ago, after the Confederate flag was removed from the Capitol in Tallahassee. So far the group has two major flags erected: one in Suwannee County along Interstate 75 and one in Havana along U.S. 27.

Adams insists the flag isn't about racism or slavery. "It's about honoring our ancestors and about celebrating our heritage," he said. "It's a historical thing to us."

He hopes people who are offended by the flag will drive to the memorial and view the plaques honoring Confederate soldiers. They plan to have one dedicated to black Confederate veterans, he said.

Mitch McDonald, the general manager of a nearby crane rental business, said he won't mind the flag. "The bigger, the better," he said.

But he's worried that it might offend a black employee of his, who was angered by the sighting of a Confederate flag on an earlier assignment.

Ted Meyer, who owns a nearby boat business, said he is concerned customers will think it's his flag because the properties are adjacent. His wife, Maxine Meyer, is upset by the plans. "I've got a lot of black customers," she said.

Dawson, the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Florida commander, said he knows a giant Confederate flag flying 24 hours a day over two of the Tampa area's busiest roads will cause controversy.

"We can't do anything but explain to people what the truth is," said Dawson, of Pensacola. "If they don't want to accept that, they're closed-minded, and Jesus Christ couldn't change it."

Times staff writers Andrew Meacham and Michael Van Sickler and Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2443.

As long as a semi

>>fast facts

Who is the Sons of Confederate Veterans?

The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a national organization founded in 1896 that bills itself as a "historical, patriotic and nonpolitical organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861 to 1865 period is preserved." It's open to male descendants of Confederate veterans.

The Florida division of the group has more than 1,500 members, according to its Web site. The group supported the proposed Confederate Heritage license plate, which did not pass this legislative session.

.fast facts

Who are the Sons of Confederate Veterans?

The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a national organization founded in 1896 that bills itself as a "historical, patriotic and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861 to 1865 period is preserved." It's open to male descendants of Confederate veterans.

The Florida division of the group has more than 1,500 members, according to its Web site. They supported the proposed Confederate Heritage license plate, which did not pass this legislative session.

Comments on this article

by West	Jun 3, 2008 11:22 AM
I fully support the display of any Confederate Flag as a reminder of the Yankee armies invading the Southern people's homeland. The states had every right to seceed from the union. Lincoln's greatest concern was collecting his "cotton tax".

by Jay	Jun 3, 2008 11:22 AM
Abe Lincoln didn't make slavery an issue during the civil war until January 1, 1863

by Andrew	Jun 3, 2008 11:11 AM
Indeed, when one claims that the North was tyrannizing Southern society, while glossing over the vital importance of slavery to that society, they place the political rights of Southern blacks at a lower level than whites. There's a term for that...

by John-Kiwi	Jun 3, 2008 11:10 AM
Gorgeous.I can't wait to see it ! Why is this whole slavery crap revisionist stuff always trotted out when this topic comes up. This flag is about MY Southern heritage. My blood. Too many are brainwashed or gutless to challenge this indoctrination.

by Jared	Jun 3, 2008 11:10 AM
Does this not sound a lot like taxation without representation. If the colonial states could go to war, why couldn't the southern states stand up against this tyranny. Race was only made a factor when the north was losing and they needed troops

by Jared	Jun 3, 2008 11:09 AM
The flag represents a time when the tyrannist north tried to oppress the south by declaring that they could only sell the cotton to the north at cheap prices, the north was then going to sell back the cotton goods at high prices

by RIchard	Jun 3, 2008 10:58 AM
These are the same people who get all in an uproar when immigrants march and fly the Mexican flag. I think the usual comment is, if you don`t like it here get out.

by Andrew	Jun 3, 2008 10:57 AM
Southern secession wasn't about "freedom from tyranny." The South was built upon coerced labor. The North wasn't fighting to end slavery, but the South wasn't fighting against "tyranny." They were fighting to preserve a culture of white tyranny.

by Jared	Jun 3, 2008 10:57 AM
The confederate stands for a southern uprising against the tyrannist north of the time. The North tried to control the southern states and tell them where and to whom they could sell their export. Race only entered when the north was losing.

by Richard	Jun 3, 2008 10:57 AM
The Civil War was about slavery and nothing more. If Lincoln (a Republican)had not issued the Emancipation Proclamation there would have been no war. The secession from the US failed, get over it.

by bill	Jun 3, 2008 10:56 AM
you don't see the german's trying to fly a nazi flag to recognize their history do you?

by Jim	Jun 3, 2008 10:56 AM
Everyone should be glad to live in a country where you can openly express yourself regardless of who gets offended. I may not like what you say or do but I have fight for your right to say or do it.I'm a PROUD Vietnam vereran.Keep America truly FREE.

by FishPsn	Jun 3, 2008 10:56 AM
As long as people can fly Mexican, Puerto Rican, and African by god the Confederate flag will fly too. This flag is a huge part of the history of this country and has no more to do with racism than the NAACP has to do with White Power.

by West	Jun 3, 2008 10:56 AM
The states had every right to seceed from the union. I fully support displaying any Confederate Flag as a reminder of the Yankee armies invading the Southern people's homeland. Lincoln's main concern was about collecting his "cotton tax".

by Charlie	Jun 3, 2008 10:45 AM
My problem with the whole thing isn't the flag, it's the scale. That thing is going to be a monstrosity on a busy connector. If they want to pay tribute, why not a marble sculpture with bronze statute of Brig.Gen Finegan mounted with a smaller flag

by Robert	Jun 3, 2008 10:31 AM
If you really had that much pride in this little used version of a csa battle flag then you would have stood up for it long ago when racists used it for their purposes and modified what it represents. You have yourselves to blame.

by Kevin	Jun 3, 2008 10:26 AM
no flags, no borders. then we would be united. oh and lois, the last time i checked, we lost against north vietnam.

by alfred	Jun 3, 2008 10:17 AM
what a shameful display of hatred and political ignorance on the part of northerners and the naacp.i am of hispanic & german heritage & comanche indian.now you wont be able to fly anything you want on private prop.conformist socialism marches on.

by JAMES	Jun 3, 2008 10:17 AM
It is about time the blacks understand we have the right to honor our heritage. We all need to come together as American , together we stand devided we fall.Red,yellow,black, or white we are all americans. And we all have our owen heritage.

by Alan	Jun 3, 2008 10:13 AM
At the Battle of Washita Custer massacred Cheyene men,women and children. They turned their guns and knives on the pony herd. Wounded knee, the Trail of Tears, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. All under the the flag of the US. Fly Old Glory proudly!

by chris	Jun 3, 2008 10:01 AM
The confederate flag represents the division of this great country and a desire to oppress people by asserting "state's rights." History shows anytime someone mentions "state's rights" it is in an effort to justify unequal treatment of minorities.

by Texas Pete	Jun 3, 2008 10:00 AM
This is America and if you don't like it you can git out!

by chris	Jun 3, 2008 10:00 AM
To Jack, regardless of when the flag became a symbol of racism, it did. Your relatives fought and died to keep people enslaved. There is no honor in that. They deserve our consternation. Sacrifice for an immoral purpose does not make it moral.

by chris	Jun 3, 2008 10:00 AM
This is why flag burning should be allowed in the US. To John, it is impossible to not look at a flag. That is sort of the point. This is nothing more than rednecks tweaking black folks for fun. The flag belongs in a museum. It represents the past.

by Larry	Jun 3, 2008 10:00 AM
The Union Flag was flying high and proud in the Northern states while they manufactured all of those slave ships we read about. The North owned slaves and the South owned slaves. Take down the American flag while you're at it.

by John	Jun 3, 2008 9:44 AM
Here's a thought. Show your pride and heritage by flying the American flag. Of course, that wouldn't make a statement about the confederacy, would it? Rednecks...ya gotta love em.

by tom	Jun 3, 2008 9:44 AM
As the descendant of a Confederates myself, I like the SCV's plan. That said, I'd prefer they raise the 1st National CSA flag or the Stainless Banner..the Real Confederate flag!

by Teri	Jun 3, 2008 9:44 AM
Why would you want a loosing flag that evokes such bad feelings to fly anywhere.

by Stephanie	Jun 3, 2008 9:43 AM
This flag idea is a disgrace. It will just reinforce the redneck image that Tampa already has. I feel sorry for Mr. Meyer. He should file for an injunction on this one. Many people, not just blacks, are offended by that flag. It represents racism.

by Lois	Jun 3, 2008 9:43 AM
What we really need is a big memorial field where flags belonging to all who lost wars against the US will fly proudly. Germany in two forms, Japan, North Vietnam, Spain & Korea - you get the idea. Then the Confederate flag will be right at home.

by Darryl	Jun 3, 2008 9:15 AM
The last time I looked this was america,and the only flag that should be displayed is the american flag.everywhere I go I see mexican,african,confederate,and puerto rico flags everywhere.if a flag is to be banned then its all flags,but the u.s. flag!

by Jesse	Jun 3, 2008 9:14 AM
God bless the boys in gray! It's shameful that everyone in America is allowed to be proud of thier heritage except for those of us who are decended from the valiant Confederate soldiers. The NAACP has made the confederate flag "racial". Deo Vindice!

by Ben	Jun 3, 2008 9:14 AM
Oh come on, that flag stood for a treasonous uprising against the lawful government of the United States that led to the deadliest war in American history. Real positive item to display.

by Richard	Jun 3, 2008 9:14 AM
Look I dont care what kind of flag someone displays. But whatever role the Confederate did or did not play during the war ..during the aftermath it was used as and became a symbol of oppression

by Bob	Jun 2, 2008 2:00 PM
I am the great, great grandson of a Confederate Veteran who was killed during the civil war but I do not support the "white supremacists" who want to hide behind the Confederate flag history to deny all of our people equal rights. The war is over!!!