After a whirlwind 24-hour period in Washington concerning the use of the Confederate flag in national parks and cemeteries, nothing will immediately change how the National Parks Service handles the controversial flag. But the future remains cloudy for the flag and its role on federally-funded lands.
Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia doesn't fly the battle flag, but it's one of just a few places in the country that might have to make changes in its daily routine should congress continue this debate. The Confederate prison operated for 14 months during the civil war, housing over 45,000 Union soldiers, with nearly a third dying due to the deplorable conditions.
WSB spoke with Andersonville's chief of interpretation and education, Stephanie Steinhorst, who explained that the use of confederate national flags is instrumental in teaching the history of the troublesome site.
"During our historic 150th commemoration, we flew the second national confederate flag over the Star Fort, which was the traditional headquarters of confederate leadership at Andersonville," she said.
Steinhorst said this flag is slightly different than the one of much debate today. Appropriate to the time the prison was in use, the flag is completely white with the familiar logo only in the left corner. No one has complained of the flag's presence, and she said they followed federal flag regulations, taking down the confederate flag whenever the US flag was at half-staff.
"Certainly we've had commentary from some folks who say they won't visit or that they are upset the removal of things, but nothing has been removed from our exhibit," she said.
While Andersonville looks to continue to use confederate flags as learning tools, a metro-Atlanta cemetery hopes the flag will remain in use to honor the buried.
Betty Hunter is president of the Marietta Confederate Cemetery Foundation, in charge of the 3,000 confederate dead buried from various southern states. Hunter shares the popular sentiment that the flag isn't racist, but instead serves to honor the soldiers who in many cases had no choice but to go to war.
"That flag has been an important part of our cemetery," she said. "It has honored them all these years. I would hate to lose it."
The cemetery is on state-owned land, but would not be affected by federal legislation. Despite this, Hunter said she thinks DC should abandon the flag debate all together.
"I think they are opening a real Pandora's Box," she said. "I don't think we need that at this time in our country."
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