Maurice Bessinger has proudly flown the Confederate Battle Flag over his famous chain of BBQ restaurants for nearly a decade but now he says the poor economy is forcing him to remove the flags due to the rising cost of Dry cleaning! 

   The Confederate Battle Flag will be coming down at his Columbia, SC locations but will remain flying at other restaurants. The South Carolina state flag will remain flying above his Columbia restaurants.  He did indicate that if the economy picks up the flags will return. Mr. Bessinger apparently stated that his decision was in no way an attempt to drum up additional business from those that opposed his Southern patriotism.

Read the article at Slashfood

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     Webmaster comment –

     I am fully aware of the many sacrifices that Mr. Bessinger has gone through because of his show of Southern patriotism at his restaurants.  I’m sure these sacrifices have taken a profound financial toll but to take the flag down and blame it on “Dry cleaning” costs is just embarrassing. 

     If it was about dry cleaning costs wouldn’t it make sense to remove ALL of the flags and not just the so-called “politically incorrect” one?  I’ve always admired Maurice’s stand on this matter and am sorely disappointed on his decision to remove the flag.  I hate to admit it but I suspect that Mr. Bessinger’s decision is based more on getting his products back onto the shelves of big box retail stores than his “dry cleaning” bills.

     I humbly ask my readers to let Mr. Bessinger know that we are not happy with his decision to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from his restaurants and would like him to reverse his decision.  You can email Maurice’s BBQ at mail@mauricesbbq.com.

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

For Further Information contact:
Attorney Fred O’Neal
(407) 719-6796

Sons Of Confederate Veterans
Heritage Plate Chairman John Adams
(407) 302-1297

United States District Judge John Antoon II has issued an order that will clear the way for the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) to obtain a specialty license plate from the State of Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The order, just released by the Federal Middle District Judge, upholds the First Amendment right to have the plate issued by DMV, regardless of the inaction of the Florida Legislature in failing to consider or approve the plate and rules
against DMV’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The case (Case No. 6:09-cv-134-Orl-28KRS) SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, FLORIDA DIVISION, INC. JOHN W. ADAMS -vs- JEFFREY H. ATWATER, LARRY CRETUL, ANDY GARDINER, RICHARD GLORIOSO,and ELECTRA THEODORIDES-BUSTLE was filed nearly a year ago following two (2) years of legislative inaction to approve the plate.

"We followed all the procedures, paid the fees required by the state, and did absolutely everything that was required by law and the politicians in the Florida Legislature failed to follow their own statutes. Now it looks like parts or all of those statutes may be stricken by the Federal Court as an unconstitutional infringement of First Amendment rights," stated John Adams, Chairman of the Confederate Heritage Plate Committee of the SCV."

"All Floridians who support the heritage involved with this plate could soon have an opportunity to put this plate on their cars and show the pride they have as Floridians who support our state’s history and heritage," stated Douglas Dawson, SCV Florida Commander.

"Judge Antoon’s order is a huge step forward for our case and the ruling will pave the way for the Confederate Heritage plate to become a reality," stated Attorney Fred O’Neal. "In response to the State’s motion to dismiss, we had to lay all of our cards on the table and present our evidence, which was compelling. The State did the same and the Judge ruled for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights… we’re very pleased with Judge Antoon’s ruling," O’Neal concluded.

Florida’s specialty plate program consists of a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit Florida based organization providing a $60,000 license fee; conducting a survey that requires 30,000 or more Floridians that will purchase the plate (SCV actually
obtained over 45,000); a short-term and long term marketing plan; a financial plan for plate proceeds distribution and an audit of the survey by the Auditor General’s office.

Orlando-based Advantage Consultants was retained to produce all
the components for the proposed plate. Advantage Consultants has produced twenty-five specialty plate’s and maintains a 100% acceptance rate by the DMV and the Auditor-General. Advantage also produced the Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream" plate.

By the 97th Regimental String Band 

This is truly my favorite Southern patriotic song and stands only next to Dixie in my heart. I hope you enjoy this outstanding rendition of The Bonnie Blue Flag

Cover of sheet music for "The Bonnie Blue Flag" words by Harry Macarthy, New Orleans: A.E. Blackmar & Bro., 1861

From Wikipedia:

The Bonnie Blue Flag", also known as "We Are a Band of Brothers", is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America. The words were written by Ulster-born entertainer Harry McCarthy, with the melody taken from the song "The Irish Jaunting Car". The song’s title refers to the unofficial first Flag of the Confederacy, the "Bonnie Blue Flag that bears the "single star" of the chorus.

"The Bonnie Blue Flag" holds special significance to the Texas brigade. The song was premiered by lyricist Harry McCarthy during a concert in Jackson, Mississippi, in the spring of 1861 and performed again in September of that same year at the New Orleans Academy of Music for the First Texas Volunteer Infantry regiment mustering in celebration.

The New Orleans music publishing house of A.E. Blackmar issued six editions of "The Bonnie Blue Flag" between 1861 and 1864 along with three additional arrangements. The "Band of Brothers" mentioned in the first line of the song is a reference to the St. Crispin’s day speech in William Shakespeare’s play Henry V.

The Bonnie Blue Flag