CONFEDERATE FLAG AT COURTHOUSE

Federation of States - April 18, 2002 - Marcus Mallard, Grimes County commissioner, raised the flag of the Confederate Republic on April 1, 2002. The flag has flown at the Grimes County Courthouse every day since in recognition of Confederate History and Heritage month decreed by the Texas Senate. The County Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing April as Confederate History and Heritage month in Grimes County and in recognition of this proclamation authorized the flying of the First National Flag during the month of April, 2002. The resolution was prepared and presented to the court by members of the Grimes County Greys, SCV camp 924 said Commander Jim Westmoreland.

Controversy arose last summer when final plans were being made by the Grimes County Greys, Camp 924 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to erect a $35,000.00 statute of a Confederate Soldier at the Crimes County Courthouse, a measure that had been approved several times previously according to Marcus Mallard. As a result, the County judge ruled against allowing the statute to be placed on County property.

The Greys then undertook to purchase property Confederate soldier Statute in Anderson, Texas nearby for the erection of the statute on N. Main just 80 feet from the Courthouse. The Greys, with some 80 members, completed the constructions of a fence and the display of Confederate Flags of the thirteen Confederate States with a high flag pole flying the Confederate Battle Flag in the center just behind the statute of the soldier. The ground is covered with bricks, each with the name of persons donating money that brick and the project.

For the April 28, 2001 dedication of this Confederate Historical site, an overnight camp-out was sponsored wherein Confederate troops from other camps joined the Greys with their tents in period manner and cooked their meals over open camp fires.

The next day began with a parade from the camp site at the city park two blocks away and included Confederate troops of the various SCV camps in uniform as well as civilians and ladies, many also in Historical period dress.

The dedication included the firing of muskets in three salutes made by a Confederate musket squad. Each salute was answered from the nearby park with an impressive cannon firing. Also, the Confederate First National Flag was raised on the Courthouse flag poll to fly the rest of the day.

Certain anti-Confederate racists raised objections apparently being "offended" by the placement of the Confederate Flag so near to the Crimes County Courthouse. This prompted Channel 3 to run a TV survey in the Bryan/College Station - Houston TV reception area. The were results shocking.

KBTX-TV 3 (CBS)Online poll Results provided by KBTX.com Wednesday, May 2,2001 - 11:30 AM

Do you agree with the placement of a Confederate battle flag on private property 80 feet from the Grimes County Court House? (Anderson, Texas)

Yes 96%
No 2%
Undecided 1%

Back to the Confederate Flags currently flying on Crimes County property in front of the Courthouse, not only is the First National Flag flying, but the Texas Flag is also flying which (few people know) was flown by Texas Confederate troops in nearly every battle of the war and is thus the Texas Confederate Flag. Meanwhile, the Confederate battle flag is still flying down the street at the Confederate Memorial Plaza.

To determine the public attitude about flying these flags another poll was taken by Scripps Howard Texas Poll.

61% of Texans say that the Confederate Flag symbolizes the history of the South.
15% say it represents slavery.
12% say neither.
1% say it represents both history of the South and slavery.
11% said they don't know.