The first national flag of the Confederacy is removed from the flagpole outside the Anderson County (Texas) Courthouse. (Photo by the Palestine, Texas, Herald Press)

CNHI News Service

PALESTINE, Texas — As a small crowd sang “Dixie,” the first national flag of the Confederacy was lowered from a flagpole outside a southeast Texas courthouse, ending a brewing controversy.

The Anderson County commissioners had voted, 3-2, to fly the flag during Confederate History and Heritage Month. But the flag, which also drew a group of protesters, flew for only a few days before representatives of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans lowered it.

Their action came minutes before the Palestine City Council voted unanimously to ask the commissioners to take it down.
Palestine Mayor Bob Herrington said he took an oath to defend the U.S. and Texas flags.

“It’s (the Confederacy) a government that no longer exists,” Herrington told the crowd. “...It’s hard for me to recognize a flag like the Confederate flag that is so divisive in nature.”

The issue had drawn attention from media outlets across the state to the community which is located southeast of Dallas.

Not all agreed to remove the flag. “Many members of the community, along with myself, are extremely disappointed that the Confederate flag was taken down from the courthouse this evening,” said Palestine resident Morgan Carroll, who added a protest response was being planned.

Details for this story were provided by the Palestine (Texas) Herald-Press.