Thursday, June 13, 2013

FLAG DAY- JUNE 14 – TO BE OBSERVED WITH HISTORICAL FLAG REPLACMENT


Tampa – In observance of Flag Day, a ceremony replacing national flags will occur in downtown Tampa on Friday, June 14th at noon at Chillura Park.
Amid modern skyscrapers, bustling streets, and the excitement of the monthly "Eat at Joe's" food truck event,  a colorful ceremony with military and civilian re-enactors will relive the moment when a new Confederate national flag made her appearance in Tampa 150 years ago.
2nd National Flag

The new 2nd National Flag of the Confederate States of America was purposefully distinctive, so as not to be confused with the USA flag, the enemy of the Confederacy during the War.  Original Southern sentiment was to have a flag with a similar pattern to the Old Union established and maintained with Southern blood shed during two wars.  But friendly fire incidents, coupled with resentments over the mounting Southern casualties caused the Confederate Congress to change the design only 13 months after the first design
Was adopted.  This 2nd National flag, too, would eventually be replaced – due to a flaw in its design – the white background could be too easily confused with the flag of truce.
History buffs will appreciate one of the nicknames of the 2nd National Flag - the "Jackson Flag"  - due to its first official use - draping Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's coffin as he lay in State in the Confederate Capital on   12 May, 1863.
Although the exact location or date of the actual ceremony is not known, the Confederate Congress adopted the design of the new 2nd National flag on May 1, 1863, and the Flag Bill (Senate Bill No. 132) was signed into law the same day by CSA President Jefferson Davis.  After official news was received, and flags provisioned, Fort Brooke would fly its new national banner.
The ceremony is organized by the Sesquicentennial Commission of Tampa Bay, which is observing key dates in the Tampa Bay area during the Sesquicentennial. David McCallister, President of the Sesquicentennial Commission stated, "The dire predictions of the Confederophobes have been proven groundless as the historical Confederate flags become more and more familiar to and honored by our citizens – providing a link to our common past".  Other Commission events included the 150th Anniversaries of the Presentation of Unit Colors to the Sunny South Guard in 1861 at Fort Brooke, and the bombing of Tampa by the USS Sagamore in 1862 at Oaklawn Cemetery.
All citizens are welcome to attend and witness this colorful historical event.  For more info visit:  www.tampabay150.org.