Information about Georgia State Flag 

On Saturday November 8th Dick Gephardt was flagged at the Lebanon, Missouri civic center. This was a joint effort made between the Missouri Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Missouri League of the South.

This was supposed to be a really big deal in Lebanon since no presidential candidate had visited since Truman. But if Gephardt thought it was a big deal the people of Lebanon must have felt differently.

I counted roughly 90 people at the civic center, (that includes reporters and news crews). We arrived at the Civic Center around 3:30 pm. Gephardt was supposed to have arrived at 4:00 but was running late. This benefited us greatly since this gave more time for people driving by to view us.

Also all of the Gephardt supporters had to walk past us and the variety of beautiful Confederate flags we had flapping in the cold November wind as it started to sleet.

One of our members let us know that we had visitors and a quick glance down the street revealed a Lebanon City Police car. It wasn't long before two more showed up. They kept a very close eye on us as if they were expecting trouble.

Soon after that a lady with Gephardt's staff accompanied by another man walked out. The man asked us what our purpose was in the universe and I told him we were protesting Dick Gephardt.

"In regards to what?", the lady asked.

" We are protesting him for instigating the removal of the two Confederate flags in Missouri and most recently the negative comments he made about the flag", I told her.

"You mean in regards to Howard Dean?", she asked.

"Yes the other idiot", I replied

The gentleman accompanying the lady then said, " That idiot may be your president someday"

To which I replied, by laughing and saying, "That's the best joke I've heard all week".

Another gentleman drove up in a town car and just sat there. He had us wondering just what he was intending to do when he got out slowly approached us and asked if we had any literature!

While flagging two TV news crews approached us, ignored us and walked straight inside. One was a Fox affiliate. You know, "We Report. You Decide". One question to the guys over at Fox: How can people decide if you don't report?"

One newspaper reporter did approach us and asked why we were protesting. We told him why. He then asked, " So you guys are Bush supporters?"

To which we replied, " No we don't like him either!"

"Anybody you'd vote for?", was his second question.

We discussed it and said, "Ron Paul from Texas".

"What do you believe in ", was his third question?

" Just go to www.lewrockwell.com, write it down, www.lewrockwell.com" said Missouri League member Rick Gibbs.

I doubt if he went there but I would have loved to see the look on his face when he read the slogan atop Lew's page, " The anti-state, anti-war, pro-market news site".

Still we continued to flag. I then noticed a white conversion van pull into the Civic Center's circle drive. It slowly approached us and then the driver quickly accelerated fleeing the entrance.

"That's him!" , I shouted.

We then watched the van quickly drive across the back parking lot where Gephardt must have been whisked into a service elevator. Though Gephardt took the coward's way through the back door, it wasn't before he drove past the small but formidable force of flaggers that he certainly didn't expect to be waiting for him.

It wasn't long before "Little Dick" Gephardt was speaking inside. When we tried to enter with our flags a police sergeant wasted no time in telling us NO!

"You can't take those in here" he said.

Rick asked, " Why not it's a public facility. I thought this was a free country".

So several of us went in. Three of the SCV members had battle flags on their jackets. One said, " they can't stop us from showing him these flags!"

We were on a balcony and Gephardt was below. They turned their backs to him and let him get a good look!

We listened to him ramble on a while and then walked out.

On the way out I asked one of his staffers, " sir are you with Gephardt?"

"Yes", was his reply.

"I'd like to have a moment with you ", I requested.

We went to the lobby where he was sure no one would hear us and I began to quiz him.

I told him socialized medicine would never work.

He said Gephardt was not for socialization but merely a reimbursement to people's employers by act of Congress.

I told him that was socialization.

While we were debating the same police sergeant that would not allow us to take our flags in came out and was shocked to hear me debating the staffer about healthcare and education. ( I guess since I waved a rebel flag earlier I was supposed to be ignorant)

I continued to grill him and then said, " You know Gephardt can not win don't you?"

To which he replied, " I think he can"

Laughing in his face I replied, " You're kidding right".

He was not amused.

I told him I had taken enough of his time and wished for him to relay a message to Gephardt.

" Tell Gephardt he is not the Southern man's candidate!"

Leaving, Rick heard the staffer say, " You've got your dream, I've got mine".

As we continued flagging they turned out the lights trying to keep motorist from seeing us. We flagged a while longer and then convened at a local restaurant to warm up eat, and make more battle plans!

I spent the night at the Gibbs home and then drove back down to Southeast Missouri the next morning. Before I reached Bollinger County, I saw a house that had a battle flag flying that was worn and tattered. I pulled in and asked the owner if he would like another flag and he asked how much it was. I told him it was free and he then thanked me and accepted my offer. I also told him that we had flagged Gephardt the night before and he again thanked me.

"Someone has got to do something about this, it's getting out of hand",he told me. I then told him about the Missouri Flag Campaign, gave him a "Dump Holden" bumper sticker and a flag campaign brochure. We shook hands and I bid he and his wife goodbye.

Thus ended one of the best weekends I can remember. But there will be more, there will certainly be more!

Clint E. Lacy

Missouri League of the South