BREWER, Maine — The service station owner who displayed a Confederate battle flag in response to the recent controversy surrounding the emblem says he plans to take it down Saturday.
Larry Burke, 65, of Orrington raised the flag outside his business on July Fourth, alongside the American flag and POW/MIA flag. A fellow U.S. Marine and double amputee from South Carolina gave Burke the battle flag about 20 years ago.
Those who have reached out to him personally about his decision to display the flag have been largely positive, he claimed.
“A few of my regulars were more upset that I took the Marine Corps flag down to make room for this one,” Burke said.
Burke said he flew it in response to what he sees as “overblown” national calls to remove the flag from public buildings recently.
The banner has been embroiled in controversy since photos emerged of Dylan Roof, the white man charged with the recent shooting deaths of nine African-American worshippers in a South Carolina church, posing with the flag on a website that also carried a racist manifesto.
On Friday, after legislative intervention, South Carolina removed the rebel flag from Capitol grounds in a ceremony.
The flag’s opponents point out its widespread use as a symbol of groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. Others view it as a representation of the long history of slavery, violence and oppression against African Americans in the United States. Still others argue it has no place flying next to the American flag, as it belonged to a rebel group that committed treason against the United States.
During an interview earlier this week, Burke said he doesn’t see the flag as a symbol of discrimination or racism, but as a representation of southern pride.
“We’ve got to stop looking for that racial divide,” he said.
Burke, who has owned the gas station for 30 years, will take his battle flag back to his home and replace it with the U.S. Marine Corps flag that flew there previously, he said.
On Friday afternoon, a shopper walked into Burke’s store to buy cigarettes as Burke was speaking with a reporter.
“Good for you guys,” the shopper said, nodding toward the flag.
Others haven’t been so pleased with the display.
Readers commenting online about the initial story about the flag clashed over whether the display was appropriate.
“That’s what makes this country great, you can choose to disagree,” Burke said.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.