JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Sunday, nearly 60 people waved Confederate flags on the Chaffee Road overpass overlooking I-10 in Jacksonville's westside.
Most of the people involved were veterans of the United States armed services. They said they were not trying to offend anyone, but instead simply "expressing their freedom."
Walter Rounds, a veteran and supporter of the Confederate flag, explained what he thought about the meaning behind the symbol. "It's not a race issue, all it is, is a heritage issue and that's all we're trying to get across to people, it's not race at all."
There were those who disagreed with the display, like Robert Drummond.
"That is their belief and I respect whatever they believe, but I believe that there have been a lot of mistruths as it relates to the Confederacy in succession [sic] from the Unites States of America," he said, "which was an act of treason and the flag [represents] an act of treason."
Drummond said it was insensitive of them to rally because of the time period it represents.
"It's a painful reminder," said Drummond, "a very bad and painful part of this nation's history."
However, he said that those at the rally weren't in the wrong because they had the right to free speech.
"It's their belief and I respect whatever they believe."
It's a message of freedom they seemed to echo.
"I spent 3 years, 9 months and 27 days as a POW in Vietnam," said Charles Jenkins, a veteran and supporter of the Confederate flag. "So this hat gives me a right to fly this flag."
Jenkins said his being there was not about the flag, but about the freedom he fought and nearly died for years ago.
"I don't care if they wanted to come here and fly an African-American flag on that bridge today I would've backed them up, if they wanted to fly a gay flag I would've backed them up, they want to fly an ISIS flag I do have a problem with that one."
Jenkins said his support for the flag stems from his frustration with an overbearing government.
"They keep chipping away, taking this, taking that, taking this, next thing you know it's your guns, it's your bible, it's everything, there has to be a line in the sand somewhere."
He said the flag isn't to blame for what happened in Charleston, South Carolina.
"The flag didn't cause that tragedy, there's going to be another one tonight, you'll be on the news tonight, somebody killed somebody in Jacksonville. It won't be because of this flag."
James Shillinglaw organized the event. He said it's all about perception.
"You can make a racist symbol out of anything," said Shillinglaw. "That's what people need to remember today, it's the actions of people not the flag that they use."
While they spread their message clear as day from an overpass, Drummond, although tolerant, has a message in return for them.
"It's not sensitive to others who have felt the pains, or if they haven't their ancestors have felt the pain," said Drummond. "I just wish people would keep those things in mind as they push whatever their beliefs are."
The flyer that was sent out advertising Sunday's event told flag supporters to park in the Wynn-Dixie parking lot next to the overpass.
Wynn-Dixie reached out to First Coast News shortly afterward to make sure the public knew they were not involved in the rally.
The supporters of the flag were out for nearly five hours on Sunday before the rain forced them from the bridge.
