Fire truck in Albert Lea flies Confederate flag during parade...

[LW1977]

http://www.startribune.com/aside-stars-and-stripes-firetruck-flies-confederate-flag-in-albert-lea-holiday-parade/311675081/

Just poking a sleeping bear I guess..

LOCAL 311675081
Fire truck flies Confederate flag alongside stars and stripes in Albert Lea holiday parade
Parade sponsor said flying the flag was “unfortunate” but will “essentially be forgotten” in a couple of days.
By Paul Walsh Star Tribune JULY 5, 2015 —
A southern Minnesota firefighter flew a Confederate flag along side Old Glory while he drove a fire truck in a July 4th weekend parade in Albert Lea, and the event’s organizer said Sunday that such a display was “unfortunate” but within the firefighter’s right.

The flag of the South during the Civil War flew at the same height from the back of the fire truck belonging to the Freeborn County town of Hartland during “3rd of July Parade” on Friday in Albert Lea that was organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Confederate flag’s display in the South and elsewhere has been at the center of a national debate since the June 17 mass killing in a predominantly black church in Charleston, S.C. The alleged shooter is an advocate of the Southern cause in the Civil War, and he has posted photos of himself with the flag in the past on social media.

The Hartland fire truck was driven by Brian Nielsen, a firefighter for about 10 years with the department. Nielsen said Sunday that he was not endorsing slavery but was fed up with what he views as “political correctness” attacking a symbol that is part of history.

“My view is that PC is going too far taking things out of history,” Nielsen said. “It has nothing to do with slavery. I don’t see color, black or white. We’re all equal.”

Randy Kehr, the chamber’s executive director said, “My personal view is that it was unfortunate” that the Confederate flag was flown in the parade. “Certainly, it’s within their right. It’s a difficult situation. … It’s a part of history. It truly is.”

In Erhard, Minn., this vehicle sported a Confederate flag during this weekend's Fourth of July parade.

In Erhard, Minn., this vehicle sported a Confederate flag during this weekend's Fourth of July parade.
Kehr said he didn’t know ahead of time that the Southern flag would be flown, and if he had, “I would probably have asked [Nielsen] respectfully not to fly it.”

Nielsen said the Confederate flag’s display was his decision alone and he did not think he needed his department’s approval.

“I didn’t think it would bring this much attention,” he said. “I just wanted to stand up and say that PC is not right all the time. They’re actually not right most of the time.”

Before the parade, Nielsen said, a woman wearing a DFL patch on her shirt came up to him and criticized him for having the Confederate flag on the truck. Otherwise, he added, “there were some people who stood up and clapped” as the truck went by with the two flags side by side.

Parade rules distributed to entrants say “all vehicles … must be decorated in either a patriotic theme or according to the parade theme.” This year’s theme: “Teaming Up for America.”

Kehr chuckled a bit and acknowledged that the Hartland fire truck was “probably not” in compliance.

During the community’s fireworks Saturday night, Kehr said, he heard nothing about the Confederate flag flying in the parade.

“I think in about two days it will essentially be forgotten,” he said.

Confederate flag elsewhere

At least one other parade in Minnesota had a Confederate flag displayed during July 4th festivities this weekend. In the Otter Tail County community of Erhard, a four-wheel ATV representing a NAPA auto parts store sported a U.S. flag that was flanked by smaller and lower Confederate and NAPA flags.

“The Fourth of July seems like an odd time to fly the flag of a rebel group that wanted to split the country, whose birth we celebrate, in two,” said parade spectator Ryan Ruud. “Everyone is entitled to exercise their right to freedom of speech. However, when represented with a brand, responsibility and caution generally is taken up a notch.”

[shenmue]

1. What an idiot!

Nothing to do with slavery, my ass.

[GeorgeGist]

2. Fire his racist ass.

[virgogal]

3. Some of these flags are being displayed

as an "in your face" gesture. Tell them that they shouldn't display it makes them WANT to do it.

Human nature.

It will all die down soon.

[Kalidurga]

4. He will get fired

This is Minnesota even if some cities have their share of conservative asshats.

[NCjack]

5. Flying the Flag of the Confederacy disrespects the Civil War battlefield deaths of Union troopers,

especially those from Minnesota. The flag should be burned in public and Brian Nielsen should be displayed behind glassed in a museum.

[jwirr]

8. LOL - glad some else thougt of our MN civil war soldiers.

[Adsos Letter]

9. First thing I thought of.

My G-G-G and G-G grandfathers (father and son) fought with the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The father was wounded at Vicksburg and permanently disabled, while the son served from 1861-1865. Studio photos taken of him before and after the war suggest the toll almost four years of campaigning could take on a person. I can only guess at what they would think about that rag flying in a Fourth of July parade.

Or, any of the members of the First Minnesota who happened to survive their role at Gettysburg on the second day of the battle.

Given the tenor of the times it is likely that many of them, including my relatives, might not have cared much about the racism associated with that flag. To them it would certainly have been a symbol of treasonous rebellion, and rejected as such.

[jwirr]

10. I agree that to them the flag would not have meant racism but it might have been a symbol of

slavery since they must has seen slaves.

[Adsos Letter]

11. Oh, I agree.

The Fourth Minnesota operated in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and across the Carolinas. Their regimental history talks about their interactions with freed slaves, and a letter in our possession from the G-G-G grandfather to his wife speaks with some empathy about the plight and condition of former slaves freeing themselves by making their way into the regimental/army lines.

I just know that these guys volunteered at the end of the first year of the war, when the "stamp out the rebellion" sentiment was still very high.

Do you know what regiment your relatives fought with? I find it interesting that both yours and mine were father-son teams. I wonder how common that was?

[jwirr]

13. I am not sure which regiment but they were at first stationed in Rochester MN. My family was of

German descent and just came from Germany a few years before. At that time Germany was not consolidated and had a kind of system that the people thought of a slavery. When they got here they had no intention of living in another country were people were not free.

As to the father-son thing I know that the father was quite old so I think the son may have gone along to take care of him. The father ended up disabled and was sent to a unit behind lines. He was disabled for the rest of his life. The son went fought his way down the Mississippi River and was captured and help in a confederate prison in Texas. I think he was exchanged for a southern prisoner in our prisons.

[Adsos Letter]

15. Here is a site that might be of help if you are interested in finding out more.

This site has a search function:

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm

This site's search function is pretty basic, but there is a good chance your relatives will be in there. They won't tell you much, but usually they will provide at least the regiment in which your relatives served, and very basic details about their service (date enlisted, rank at enlistment, rank at discharge, number of their regiment).

There are other ways to go about it, but this is one good way to start. It will depend on whether or not you know how they spelled their last names, as there may have been a variant spelling from those guys to their direct modern descendants.

If you can identify their regiment then you may be able to locate (on line) one of the multitude of regimental unit histories written by veterans, often in the period 1880-1900. This will usually give you a very detailed account of their unit's actions during the war. These histories usually have personnel rosters of the various companies forming the regiment. Chances are good that they would be named there, and they may be named by the author within the body of the text, depending upon what he's talking about. The relative who became a POW and was later exchanged would be a good bet for being mentioned, especially if he rejoined the unit after release.

Good luck should you choose to explore it! I'd be very interested to know what you find out.

[jwirr]

16. Thank you. Bookmarking this thread for later.

[dflprincess]

18. Cool link

I entered my g-g-grandfather's name and up he popped along with a 2nd link to a brief history of the Minnesota 2nd.

Thanks!

[Adsos Letter]

23. You're welcome.

I live in California, but three years ago my wife and I took a two week road trip through Virginia and the Carolinas. Paid visits to some of the battlefields at which my relatives were present along the way. Very cool experience.

You mentioned the First Minnesota at Gettysburg. I first heard that story when I was a kid, and it has remained one of my favorite stories from the war. When I visited Gettysburg about 10 years ago I made certain to seek out that place on the battlefield. It was a very sobering experience, having been told stories and read books about the Civil War since I was a kid, to finally be able to walk around on that battlefield.

[dflprincess]

17. First thing I thought of as well

In particular, the 1st Minnesota and fight it made the 2nd day of the Gettysburg battle.

The only place that flag belongs in Minnesota is at the history museum where they have a Confederate battle flag captured at Gettysburg - and that every now and then Virginia whines and cries about getting back. To the best of my knowledge, Minnesota continues to refuse to return it.

(One of my g-g-grandfathers was in the 2nd Minnesota. He enlisted at Fort Snelling in December 1861 - nearly 70 years to the day that my dad, his great-grandson, would enlist there for WWII.)

Maybe this guy needs to visit the GAR section at Lakewood Cemetery.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

6. "...such a display was 'unfortunate' but within the firefighter’s right..."

An individual firefighter does NOT have the right to decide what is being publicly displayed on a vehicle belonging to a tax-funded governmental unit.

The firefighter certainly has a right to express his own opinion as a citizen, but not as a public employee driving a governmental vehicle.

Firing the employee seems to be an over-reaction, but unless and until the Town of Hartland officially condemns this act, it stands as a public statement of their town government.

[jwirr]

7. If I am reading this article correctly there are one man (Brian Neilsen) and two communities

(Albert Lea and Erhard MN) who allowed this to happen. All three make me want to puke. PC my ass.

1. The 4th of July has absolutely nothing to do with the Confederate States of American or its flag. In fact it is the flag belonging to a country that went to war against the USA. So much for patriotism.

2. To fly that flag in a northern state that sent Union troops to fight in that war is an insult to those soldiers - and make no mistake about it - many of our families have a civil war soldier in our tree. If I had been there I would have turned my back on him and his truck. Apparently no one did that. (My ancestor served with the MN Union Troops along with his 16 year old son who was taken prisoner of war and held in a confederate prison for about a year.)

3. Next 4th of July I want to borrow the Nazi flag that is in our museum so I can take it down there to fly it. Maybe I can even find a bunch of people who will march with me. But I would hope if I do that I would find myself rejected by the parade committees and by the watchers. That is what should have happened to that flag. It has no history in MN.

4. Poor Mr. Neilsen thinks taking the flag down from a government flag pole in SC is taking it out of history. Hey buddy - history is in books and museums - not being a part of current government. As to my objection to using it in the 4th of July parade. In MN what does that have to do with history? Not one damned thing. If it has something to do with your personal history you have the right to hang it in front of your own house.

5. NAPA must be crazy.

[47of74]

12. Excellent point.

Got a bunch of idiots - even in my own family - who fly that goddamn rag around here down in Iowa and they don't realize that they have ancestors in their family tree that fought FOR the Union.

[msongs]

14. most revealing words - "They’re actually not right most of the time." in regards to

"PC"

[progree]

19. Firefighter suspended for flying Confederate flag in parade

A Minnesota volunteer firefighter says he's been suspended for flying a confederate flag from an engine during a holiday parade, and that he expects to be asked to resign.

Brian Nielsen drove a Hartland Fire Department truck in the Third of July Parade in the southern Minnesota city of Albert Lea. He flew both the Confederate and American flags from the back - a move that's drawn community and social media criticism.

Nielsen told The Associated Press on Sunday that his fire chief told him he's suspended pending an investigation. He also says he's willing to apologize to the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, which organized the parade.

Neilsen says he flew the flag because he's fed up with political correctness and didn't realize how much trouble it would cause.

No more at: http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2015/07/05/minnesota-firefighter-flies-confederate-flag-in-parade/29735399/

Another with a video:
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2015/07/05/minnesota-firefighter-flies-confederate-flag-in-parade/29735399/

[dflprincess]

20. Isn't he just a special kind of stupid?

It's a pity the spectators didn't start singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic or Rally 'Round the Flag.

[progree]

21. Yeah, I was thinking of posting an OP in GD, titled: "ARE YOU A F'KING IDIOT??"

with the next line being,

"probably not, but this guy sure is"

followed by the article

[progree]

22. Dumb guy lights fireworks on the head and ends up dead

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026942977

They are probably related