TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The fight over recognizing Confederate symbols and soldiers has spilled over into the state's Veterans Hall of Fame. Southern soldier supporters continue to push for inclusion.
Eight veterans were nominated for the next class of the state's Veterans Hall of Fame, including former Gov. Lawton Chiles. The induction of this year's class was interrupted by a small outburst earlier in the week.
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Sons of Confederate Veterans member David McCallister has been lobbying for rebel soldiers to be included. The law says only veterans serving in the Spanish-American War and onward are eligible.
Dale Landry, with the NAACP, said it's more than that. He said the soldiers should be excluded for what they fought for.
"The Confederacy served for one purpose. They seceded because they were angry that the North was talking about dealing with slavery and ending slavery," Landry said. "Let's not get that confused."
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"We're not about the flag," McCallister said. "We're not about any kind of public display of the flag or anything else except the Veterans Hall of Fame, and I think to bring anything else into this conversation is disingenuous and overreaching."
Retired Army soldier and state Rep. Jimmie Smith tried to keep the peace. He said the state statutes are fine, but there's wiggle room.
"Somebody [who] is or [who] has served in the Confederate service but has served in the U.S. Army afterwards or [in the] Navy subsequently, they should be allowed," Smith said.
Three Confederate soldiers were denied entry in the state's most recent class. Another two submitted for next year's also didn't make the cut.