Here is a response to the lady who tried to get the police involved in removing a Confederate flag from the yard of a person living in my town of Tehachapi, Ca.

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In her comments Ms. Smock is probably speaking of my Confederate battle flag. There may be others in town but I have prominently displayed my flag for many years. Maybe she doesn't know that only a few very vocal fringe groups with an agenda consider it a "hate" symbol and that no one who has even a passing knowledge of actual history feels that way. I fly my flag to honor my Southern background, of which I an very proud. I have more than a dozen ancestors who fought for that flag, including my g-g-grandfather who was wounded at Sharpsburg, then wounded and captured at Gettysburg, held in a prison camp in New York until exchanged. Then returned to his unit and was wounded a third time at Bentonville. I was born and grew up in North Carolina on the same land where my ancestors lived. Maybe this lady should also know that I have over 20 years in the U.S. military, including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, I flew a Confederate battle flag on my vehicle when I went into Iraq on March 19, 2003. As to the local view of the CBF, apparently she doesn't know that there is a local Tehachapi camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with nearly twenty active members. I just happen to be the Camp Commander. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at noon at Kelcy's. Anyone is welcome to come visit with us. I guess Ms. Smock didn't attend the Tehachapi Christmas Parade. We've marched in it for the last 3 years with our flags flying and had a very positive reception. I guess she also hasn't noticed our Sons of Confederate Veterans logo sign on the town sign board along with the other civic organizations. I'm also sure that this lady doesn't know that this area was generally considered a Confederate section of the state during the war and that there was even a Confederate raid on the Cummings Ranch which netted about 200 horses for the south. This lady is apparently a little mixed up about being a good neighbor how to be welcomed into a community. I really don't think allowing one neighbor to to commit the crime of theft of services(electricity) but then taking the time to go to the police department to complain about another neighbor who's done nothing at all will endear her to the neighborhood. I also don't think moving into an area and then repeatedly writing letters to the editor complaining about the town will make her many friends. Kenny Ramsey, USNR & Commander, SCV Camp 2048

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David Upton