As
promised I would post the Colors at the Confederate soldiers Memorial
Monument in Historic Downtown Waynesville, N.C. on Friday, August 10,
2012, and a Confederate stick flag I would place adjacent to the
monument.
On this Sunday
morning, August 12, I would don the uniform of the Southern soldier
and return to Waynesville. I would find the stick flag had been removed,
and thereby would post a Third National flag adjacent to the
monument, post my colors on the sidewalk, wave at the many who would
pass by, hold conversation and take pictures with a host others who
were either residents or visitors to the town.
After
some five hours had passed, I began to think about leaving when a
frail white man pushed a bicycle up to where I stood and extended his
hand to shake mine all the time identifying himself as attorney Bob
Clark, and that I must be HK Edgerton. He then pointed to the Third
National flag and said that for me to take it up immediately. Not
going to happen was my reply. He then said he was going to do it for
me, I put myself between him and the flag and was told to get off the
counties property, and that I wasn't even a citizen of the County. He
went on to say that we had already settled this matter and was going
to let it die down, and that I had gone and made a mess of the deal
made. I asked the man to move along because I had nothing more to say
to him. He would hesitate and make a gesture again towards the little
flag. I told him again, don't do it or we are going to need two cars,
one with the law, and an ambulance to carry one of us away. He then
told me not to talk loud to him. And without making a scene of it, I
spoke as loud as I could , and told him to move along buddy. He
stomped away dragging his bike with him. I would spend another three
hours at the monument basking in the love that so many had come to give
me on this day for making a Stand for the most honorable and
courageous fighting man the world has ever known, and the Christian
Colors that he served under.
I
would like to thank the Mountaineer newspaper for their excellent
coverage of the story they did about this travesty, and for bringing me
food and drink on Friday morning, the Tipping Post for the same on
Sunday morning and the many other citizens who too would do the same,
as well.
HK Edgerton
