Video: Future Plans for the Confederate Flag

[gtxvideo vid=”dPVfUWGX” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/dPVfUWGX.jpg” vtitle=”FLAG FUTURE”]

Columbia S.C (WOLO)– Friday morning the Confederate flag will no longer be flying on Statehouse grounds, instead it will be added to a collection of artifacts at a local museum dedicated to preserving the state’s military history. The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room, a collection of the state’s military artifacts, and soon to be home of the Confederate Flag now flying on Statehouse grounds. Curator of Education at the Confederate Relic Room, Joe Long says,”History is very important for people to study and understand. That is our job, to preserve and present South Carolina military history. Some say this museum is the appropriate spot for the flag to be displayed. Theryn Foster, who is in favor of removing the flag, says, “It’s history, you know, it’s a major part of American history so it should be somewhere in a relic room or somewhere in a museum, where it should be.” Others remain upset and unconvinced about the flag’s relocation. Daniel Newton who’s against the flag’s removal says, “In a case and on display… it just… that flag is made to fly outside right here in South Carolina. It’s gonna be in a case and folded up, how’s it going to fly? Are they going to keep a fan in there blowing it around… it’s not right. While plans on how the flag will be displayed are currently unclear, museum representatives say they’re committed to safeguarding the iconic emblem. Long says, “The Confederate Relic Room is a very rich museum collection. We get to do a very important educational mission for the people of South Carolina. We’re proactive about preserving what we can.” Though many remain at odds over this issue, those on both sides recognize the flag’s significance to South Carolina’s political and racial past. “Well I’d like for my youngin’ to know about the Civil War History. Everybody should know about history in school. If I was to go, it’d be to show my youngin’, to show my kids what they did to the flag… it’s supposed to fly,” says Newton “Once you start forgetting your history, then you are subject to repeat it. So, whatever happened in history you must try to learn from it, see if you can keep it from repeating itself or to improve whatever happened,” says Foster.