Letter: Loring also showed contempt for the American Flag
(Rabbi) Merrill Shapiro
Palm Coast, FL
Dear Historic City News editor:
It is quite correct that I am not a resident of St. Augustine. But I do pledge allegiance, quite regularly, to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
There are many who vilify athletes who take a knee during our National Anthem as an affront and insult to the American Flag to which we all pledge our allegiance. It seems to some as though taking a knee is a show of contempt to Old Glory, our Stars and Stripes.
General William Wing Loring, whose monument is so prominent in the heart of St. Augustine, did even more to show his contempt for the American Flag. On the evening of May 15, 1863 at Champion’s Hill, southwest of Edward’s Station, Mississippi, General Loring ordered his artillery, to fire barrage after barrage of 12-pound explosive shells at American flags and the men stationed with those flags.
What a show of disdain, contempt and scorn on our beloved flag—long may it wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Loring’s violent, blatant and conspicuous disrespect for the American Flag makes his statue unworthy of a place in the heart of my city and yours.
You may dispute this criticism of Loring and his statue in defense of our Stars and Stripes but rest assured: These colors do not run!