On Friday morning, Sept. 6, I would attend the most prestigious business meeting in the City of Asheville-Buncombe County, North Carolina — that of the Council of Independent Business Owners. 

On CIBO’s agenda that morning was an election forum made up of folks running for the office of  Asheville City Council, which would include two incumbents running for re-election (Kim Roney and Sage Turner).

Former CIBO President Mac Swicegood would ask everyone to stand for prayer and, afterward, to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. Councilwoman Roney would stand, but turned her back to the flag and refused to recite the Pledge.

Putting aside the disfavor I have for the present Council, with the exception of Vice Mayor Sandra Kilgore, for numerous reasons including their illegal action in the removal of the Honorable Zebulon Baird Vance cenotaph from the Public Square in downtown Asheville with total disregard for the law mandated by the North Carolina Monument Protection Law that requires public input before such an action; the Defund the Police actions; and total disregard of the Eagle Market Street Redevelopment Plan in the Historic Black Business District, which is now void of any black businesses, as targeted in the plan.

As a United States Army veteran, I am sure that (CIBO past) President Swicegood, himself a decorated Army veteran who led the prayer and Pledge, or the other veterans present, or the many patriotic business members present were also offended by this display from this woman (Roney).

Unfortunately, meeting time would run out and my request to question this un-patriotic person as to why she believed that a man who pledged his life and allegiance to this flag and country should give her his vote?

Ironically for me, I had just the night before attended the monthly meeting of the Jackson Rangers Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1917. And not only did we recite the Pledge to honor and defend the Confederate soldier’s good name, but also the Pledge to the North Carolina State flag, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. God bless you!

Chairman, Board of Advisors Emeritus, Southern Legal Resource Center

Honorary Life Member, Save Southern Heritage Florida

Honorary Life Member, Zebulon Baird Vance Camp 15 Sons of Confederate Veterans

Honorary Associate Member, Abner Baker Chapter 2640 United Daughters of the Confederacy

Honorary, Life Member North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose

Honorary, Life Member Jackson Rangers Camp 1917 Sons of Confederate Veterans