Where You Can Find Confederate Flag Flying in Florida

In 2001, former Florida governor and current presidential contender Jeb Bush had the Confederate flag removed from the statehouse, and he was criticized for that decision.

Some called him "spineless" and "racist to Southern people," The Wall Street Journal reported, but Bush calmly stood by his decision, as responses to emails released in June 2015 indicated.

Vote Now: Should the Confederate Flag Be Removed From All Government Buildings?

"You will be able to see the flags that flew over Florida in the Museum of Florida History proudly displayed," Bush wrote in reply to one person.

But while the Florida government properties won't be flying the Confederate flag, this symbol some consider racist is found at museums and flown by individuals. In particular, tourists will find the "World's Largest Confederate Battle Flag" in Brandon, Florida, the travel website Roadside America said. The flag was put up in 2008 by Marion Lambert after a spat with local lawmakers who did not want to participate in Southern Heritage Month.

A monument at the base of the 50-by-30 foot flag declares, according to Roadside America, that the memorial honors those who "fought, bled and died in defense of their homeland against ruthless invasion and who strove to protect America's birthright of Constitutional liberty & freedom dating from 1776."

The Confederate flag also flies on private property near the Florida-Georgia line, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

It has been there since 1999, erected by the Sons of Confederate veterans, the paper said, noting a similar memorial inscription that reads that it honors the Confederate contributions of "18,000 soldiers, sailors and marines of Florida."

Bob Hurst, a local commander in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, of the ongoing flag controversy told the Democrat: "It's not coming down. There is this element that is trying to take down all the (Confederate) flags. And a bunch of weenies in government don't have the courage to stand up for this."

Hurst's remarks came after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, called for Confederate flags to be taken down from her own statehouse grounds after nine black churchgoers were gunned down at their Charleston Bible-study by a 21-year-old who held racist beliefs.

Some confederate flags were taken down in other areas Florida, including across the county of Escambia and in the city of Pensacola, where the mayor removed them at a post office and local golf course as well as at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, USA Today reported.

Urgent: Should Government Buildings Be Forced to Remove the Confederate Flag?

Related Stories:

• Where You Can Find Confederate Flag Flying in California
  
• Where You Can Find Confederate Flag Flying in Arkansas?