Should Confederates be Allowed in State Hall of Fame?
February 6th, 2015 by flanewsThe battle between the North and the South could be re-emerging in Florida’s legislature. As Matt Galka tells us, they may have to decide if Confederate veterans should be allowed in the new Florida Veterans Hall of Fame.
Armed with the Confederate flag and a shirt proudly displaying the Stars and Bars, African-American H.K. Edgerton is trying to do right by Confederate veterans.
“The Confederate soldier is an American veteran, and this flag is a venerated object mandated by the United States Congress, end of the question,” he said.
Edgerton, who received a medal from the Governor, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans colleague David McCallister chastised the state for not allowing Confederate soldiers into the Florida Veteran’s Hall of Fame.
Nominated soldiers for this years class included former Governor Edward Perry, David Lang who helped spawn the National Guard, and former U.S. Senator Samuel Pasco – who the county was named after.
“Samuel Pasco, he was a private in the war, wounded, POW,” said McCallister.
You won’t find Civil War Veterans on the wall because soldiers needed to have fought for the United States Armed Forces. The interpretation doesn’t sit well with cabinet member Adam Putnam
“If you’re throwing these guys out on a technicality, that’s just dumb. There’s no need to relitigate this,” said Putnam.
The class was put on hold until a clear interpretation of the law and a review of the three other men could be completed.
“Don’t tell me about he’s a rebel, he did all these other kinds of things. Poppycock! He is an American Veteran, recognize him,” said Edgerton.
The issue may come down to a vote from the state legislature. The class that was slated to be inducted would have contained the first African-American inductee.
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