A federal lawsuit filed this month is putting Florida’s Hillsborough County (Tampa) under scrutiny after a man dressed in a Confederate uniform was removed from a Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.
The case raises questions about free expression, county policy, and America’s long and complicated history regarding how former Confederate soldiers were eventually recognized by the federal government.
According to the lawsuit, 77-year-old H. K. Edgerton, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime Southern heritage activist, attended the county’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 11 wearing a gray Confederate reenactor’s uniform and carrying a Confederate battle flag. He had traveled to the event believing, as the public invitation stated, that the ceremony honored all American veterans.
Shortly after arriving, Edgerton took part in the early portion of the program. He placed a wreath at the Missing Man Table, shook hands with other attendees, and spoke briefly with a retired Army lieutenant colonel who was scheduled to address the crowd. According to Edgerton, that speaker told him, “You look sharp today,” a comment he said made him feel welcome and respected…