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ROOTS GO DEEP UDC member Annie Allison of Stafford County pays homage to her Southern heritage, but vows she's an American first

UDC member Annie Allison persuaded heritage group to alter display of the U.S. and Confederate flags

BY ANN McDUFFIE

Date published: 10/4/2008

BY ANN McDUFFIE

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

ANNIE ROBERTSON ALLISON is kin to both Confederate and Union soldiers, but she is outspoken in her belief that the Stars and Stripes should be honored above the Confederate flag.

"I'm a Southerner, but first I'm an American," said Allison, who is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. "While we pay homage to our Southern heritage, the American flag takes precedence over the Confederate flag."

The UDC does have a flag protocol, according to Fredericksburg Chapter President Jill Simmons.

"We always include the American flag in all of our events and meetings. We say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem first during all of these events," Simmons said in an e-mail.

A controversy began, however, when Allison noticed that the American flag was being superseded by the Confederate flag at UDC ceremonies.

Most recently, at an Iron Cross ceremony honoring Confederate soldier William B. Newton, Allison pointed out that the color guard was not presenting the American flag over the Confederate flag.

"I raised a ruckus," Allison said in a recent interview at her Stafford County home. First, she contacted the president of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but she said they were defiant. "To them, it was a Union/Yankee flag," she said.

Allison didn't let that stop her. "I've got enough of my ancestors in me. I'm going to stand up to you. It's not a Yankee flag," she said.

The diminutive but feisty grandmother, who is visually impaired, took her beef to UDC President General Janice Langford.

Langford agreed, and in a letter published in the June/July issue of the UDC magazine reminded members to show their patriotism by supporting the Stars and Stripes.

"In all UDC programs and functions, the U.S. Flag is presented and allegiance is pledged to it. We love and revere our Confederate Flag, and we honor those who fought under it, but at the same time, as Americans, we pay total honor to the American Flag," she wrote.

Now, Allison says, the color guard must carry in the American flag first and continue to hold it during the ceremony.

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Date published: 10/4/2008

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