Published: July 02, 2009 07:09 pm      

Confederacy had many flags; this one is misrepresented

I certainly hope that most of your readers have a better education than Mr. Ed Kelly (“It took blood and bullets to defeat the evil of this flag,” June 20 Times-News).

The flag that he refers to as the Confederate Flag is actually the primary troop identification flag of the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Confederate States of America had a First National Flag (the Stars and Bars), which was replaced by the Second National Flag (the Stainless Banner), which was replaced by the Third National Flag (the Unsurrendered Banner).

There were scores of troop identification flags used throughout the CSA army. THIS troop flag of the Army of Northern Virginia has elements of the Scottish Saltire, elements of the St. Andrews Cross, and a very eye-appealing color combination, which is probably why it has been repeatedly appropriated for use as a representation for many things IT IS NOT!

To me, this is one of the most beautiful flags ever created, and represents a sense of freedom and dignity that is being removed from society.

All acts of vandalism and remarks of hate against this banner are against the Christian Cross, as well as against Scotland, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who died in this completely unnecessary war!

E.D. Stewart Jr.

Courtland, Va.