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Rebel flag, guns not wanted at battle event
Franklin officials cite safety and sensitivity
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS01/610040397
By KEVIN WALTERS
Staff Writer
FRANKLIN — A Confederate battle flag and the crack of rifle fire were two of the sights and sounds Civil War soldiers faced 140 years ago.
Yet top Franklin officials contend those things, each fraught with modern symbolism and conflicts, should not be present during a Nov. 30 ceremony to commemorate those killed during the 1864 Battle of Franklin.
Mayor Tom Miller is urging that a color guard planned for the event not fly the Confederate flag. Police Chief Jackie Moore wants re-enactors to keep their rifles away from the ceremony.
"In the strongest terms possible, let me suggest that flag not appear," Miller told officials Monday night during a committee meeting to approve funding for the event.
Afterward, Miller acknowledged he might face criticism.
But he said he wants to avoid controversy that might come from flying the flag.
Moore said he wants to keep rifles away because of security issues.
"I do have serious concerns about the safety and our being able as a police department to vouch that firearms used and borne in this event are safe," Moore said.
While both men say they want to avoid conflicts, their stances have raised thorny issues about race and history.
Some say flag simply reflects history
A leading advocate for battlefield preservation, Miller stressed that the flag doesn't carry any baggage with him personally, but that others might feel differently.
"It doesn't mean anything to me," said Miller about the Confederate flag. "I accept it for what it is. It's a historic emblem. But to a lot of people, it is an anathema. And we don't need anything that could potentially polarize our community like that could."
Miller's stance drew immediate support from the Rev. Denny Denson, an African-American pastor who believes the planned event would garner little support from black Franklin residents.
"I agree with him totally," Denson said. "The Civil War means one thing to the majority culture. It means another thing to African-Americans."
Plans call for members of the Huntsville, Ala.-based Olde Towne Brass band to divide its 14 members into two bands dressed in Union and Confederate uniforms and serenade the crowd gathered in Franklin's downtown square with songs popular in that era.
They would unite and play American anthems while the Confederate flag is lowered and the American flag raised, all by the light of 10,000 votive candles.
Bob Baccus said his band stays out of politics, doesn't fly flags and wants to educate.
"We try to be historically correct in everything we do and everything we play. We try to stay out of politics," Baccus said. "We want to play the music the way it was played 150 years ago. We try to educate our audience."
Black and white members of Franklin's Battlefield Task Force that designed the ceremony, as well as re-enactors, politicians and others, fired back at Miller's suggestion to keep flags away.
"If you're doing a ceremony where you're honoring men of two sides and you do away or ban the symbolism of one side, what does that do?" asked committee member Robin Hood, who said he dislikes how the Confederate flag has been used by hate groups who have "sort of kidnapped that flag" for their own uses. But erasing it from the event will cause only more problems, he feared.
Pearl Bransford, a longtime resident and committee member, supported the group's plan because it presents both sides of the fighting — and is a reminder of that war's hard-won, bloody lessons.
"Don't be afraid to talk about the Civil War," said Bransford, who is black. "It had a lot of ugliness in it. Out of that ugliness came freed people. There were people in bondage. … The Civil War freed me and my people. If it wasn't for the Civil War, I would be somebody's slave. And those days are over."
Meanwhile, Miller's comments left Williamson County Civil War re-enactor Ronny Mangrum, 49, outraged enough to reconsider his donation to help the city buy battlefield land in Franklin. Mangrum is known by many for his barefoot marches from Columbia to Franklin on the anniversary of the battle.
"How can we properly honor these men who fought and died for this flag because we're not allowed to carry one today because of political correctness?" Mangrum said. "My God, what in the world is happening to our town?"
Chief cites safety issues
Moore's problem with the events stems from the historically accurate guns that might be brought to the event by re-enactors and enthusiasts.
"My concern is for the safety of the re-enactors and anyone else who happens to be in attendance," Moore said. "Weapons, no matter what age they are, were designed in such a manner as to kill human beings."
Instead of re-enactors carrying rifles or firearms during the ceremony, Moore wants attendees to stack the arms beforehand outside the public square.
Moore's recommendation left Franklin Alderman Dana McLendon incredulous.
"They're six feet long and 200 years old," exclaimed McLendon. "We're not talking about people walking around with Glocks and AK (47)s."
Final approval for funding the ceremony, as well as a permit to hold it, has to be given by city officials.
These discussions may be inevitable as Franklin searches for new ways to mark the 1864 battle.
"The first year of trying to get the elephant up and dancing there are going to be these kinds of problems," said Joe Smyth, president of the nonprofit Save the Franklin Battlefield Inc.
"This is a matter of working it out with officials and staff. I would expect these issues." •
Franklin officials cite safety and sensitivity
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS01/610040397
By KEVIN WALTERS
Staff Writer
FRANKLIN — A Confederate battle flag and the crack of rifle fire were two of the sights and sounds Civil War soldiers faced 140 years ago.
Yet top Franklin officials contend those things, each fraught with modern symbolism and conflicts, should not be present during a Nov. 30 ceremony to commemorate those killed during the 1864 Battle of Franklin.
Mayor Tom Miller is urging that a color guard planned for the event not fly the Confederate flag. Police Chief Jackie Moore wants re-enactors to keep their rifles away from the ceremony.
"In the strongest terms possible, let me suggest that flag not appear," Miller told officials Monday night during a committee meeting to approve funding for the event.
Afterward, Miller acknowledged he might face criticism.
But he said he wants to avoid controversy that might come from flying the flag.
Moore said he wants to keep rifles away because of security issues.
"I do have serious concerns about the safety and our being able as a police department to vouch that firearms used and borne in this event are safe," Moore said.
While both men say they want to avoid conflicts, their stances have raised thorny issues about race and history.
Some say flag simply reflects history
A leading advocate for battlefield preservation, Miller stressed that the flag doesn't carry any baggage with him personally, but that others might feel differently.
"It doesn't mean anything to me," said Miller about the Confederate flag. "I accept it for what it is. It's a historic emblem. But to a lot of people, it is an anathema. And we don't need anything that could potentially polarize our community like that could."
Miller's stance drew immediate support from the Rev. Denny Denson, an African-American pastor who believes the planned event would garner little support from black Franklin residents.
"I agree with him totally," Denson said. "The Civil War means one thing to the majority culture. It means another thing to African-Americans."
Plans call for members of the Huntsville, Ala.-based Olde Towne Brass band to divide its 14 members into two bands dressed in Union and Confederate uniforms and serenade the crowd gathered in Franklin's downtown square with songs popular in that era.
They would unite and play American anthems while the Confederate flag is lowered and the American flag raised, all by the light of 10,000 votive candles.
Bob Baccus said his band stays out of politics, doesn't fly flags and wants to educate.
"We try to be historically correct in everything we do and everything we play. We try to stay out of politics," Baccus said. "We want to play the music the way it was played 150 years ago. We try to educate our audience."
Black and white members of Franklin's Battlefield Task Force that designed the ceremony, as well as re-enactors, politicians and others, fired back at Miller's suggestion to keep flags away.
"If you're doing a ceremony where you're honoring men of two sides and you do away or ban the symbolism of one side, what does that do?" asked committee member Robin Hood, who said he dislikes how the Confederate flag has been used by hate groups who have "sort of kidnapped that flag" for their own uses. But erasing it from the event will cause only more problems, he feared.
Pearl Bransford, a longtime resident and committee member, supported the group's plan because it presents both sides of the fighting — and is a reminder of that war's hard-won, bloody lessons.
"Don't be afraid to talk about the Civil War," said Bransford, who is black. "It had a lot of ugliness in it. Out of that ugliness came freed people. There were people in bondage. … The Civil War freed me and my people. If it wasn't for the Civil War, I would be somebody's slave. And those days are over."
Meanwhile, Miller's comments left Williamson County Civil War re-enactor Ronny Mangrum, 49, outraged enough to reconsider his donation to help the city buy battlefield land in Franklin. Mangrum is known by many for his barefoot marches from Columbia to Franklin on the anniversary of the battle.
"How can we properly honor these men who fought and died for this flag because we're not allowed to carry one today because of political correctness?" Mangrum said. "My God, what in the world is happening to our town?"
Chief cites safety issues
Moore's problem with the events stems from the historically accurate guns that might be brought to the event by re-enactors and enthusiasts.
"My concern is for the safety of the re-enactors and anyone else who happens to be in attendance," Moore said. "Weapons, no matter what age they are, were designed in such a manner as to kill human beings."
Instead of re-enactors carrying rifles or firearms during the ceremony, Moore wants attendees to stack the arms beforehand outside the public square.
Moore's recommendation left Franklin Alderman Dana McLendon incredulous.
"They're six feet long and 200 years old," exclaimed McLendon. "We're not talking about people walking around with Glocks and AK (47)s."
Final approval for funding the ceremony, as well as a permit to hold it, has to be given by city officials.
These discussions may be inevitable as Franklin searches for new ways to mark the 1864 battle.
"The first year of trying to get the elephant up and dancing there are going to be these kinds of problems," said Joe Smyth, president of the nonprofit Save the Franklin Battlefield Inc.
"This is a matter of working it out with officials and staff. I would expect these issues." •
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