The following recap and the links below are provided as a primer and reminder of why Georgians must stand up for the 1956 State flag at every opportunity.

The 1956 Georgia State flag was created, designed and adopted to honor the soldiers who risked everything they had to defend their homes, their rights and those of their fellow Southerners.

The only organized opposition to the State flag change in 1956 was from the Georgia UDC. Presumably they preferred to keep the pre-56 Georgia flag due to its resemblence to their UDC logo and its resemblence to the provisional First National flag of the Confederacy. But as was pointed out, the Cross of St. Andrew---the Confederate Battle Flag--- was and is THE most recognizable symbol of the South. It is the soldier's flag. It was an appropriate tribute to Georgia veterans on the eve of the Centennial commemorations under preparation at that time.

The 1956 Georgia flag flew over the most significant progress in civil rights and the most prosperous period of growth in the State. Those who claim there was some racial malice or defiant statement expressed in the adoption of the 1956 Georgia flag are perpetuating a willful lie.

Beginning a concerted campaign in the late 1980's, the demagogues and race-baiters heaped lie upon lie on all Confederate flags containing the St. Andrew's Cross, including the REAL Georgia State flag. They asserted that racial malice was the dominant motive for adopting the 1956 Georgia flag despite the fact that they have no credible evidence to support this unconscionable and reprehensible distortion of the truth.

In 2001, a Governor who assured the people of Georgia (before and after his election in 2000) that a flag change was nowhere on his agenda, plotted in secret for over a year and then blitzed the flag change through the legislature using bribery, intimidation and threats to force his will on the people of Georgia without any public input or debate. Essentially, one-term Governor Barnes knew that a flag change could only be accomplished by stealth, deception and coercion and by defying the will of a majority Georgia voters.

The Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans overwhelmingly endorsed the 1956 Georgia flag as "the Official Georgia State flag of the SCV." Georgia's SCV members believed the 2001 politician flag to be as illegitimate as it was ugly. For some bizzare reason, the Georgia UDC displayed the ugly 2001 flag of corruption and lies at their meetings and events, much to the consternation of numerous loyal Southerners in the UDC, the SCV and other heritage organizations.

Governor Barnes was defeated in 2002 despite his campaign warchest (ill-gotten payoffs) exceeding $20 million that political pundits said made him "politically invincible." They and Gov. Barnes learned that its Votes that win elections, not money, and that Georgia voters will not sell out their principles.

Candidate Sonny Perdue leveraged the State flag issue throughout his campaign. He criticized the actions of Gov. Barnes and stated unequivocally that he would allow the people of Georgia to vote on their state flag. At that point, everyone knew that the the 2001 Barnes flag (voted 'the Ugliest flag in North America') was wildly UNpopular and would presumably lose in a landslide to the popular 1956 flag which flew for 45 years. At that point it was clear beyond question that the promised vote meant a contest between the then-current ugly blue flag and the 1956 flag.

Gov. Perdue introduced legislation in early 2003 which would authorize a three-way contest between the then-current 2001 blue flag, the stolen 1956 flag, and the pre-56 flag. The inclusion of the pre-56 flag was a surprise and a foreshadowing of trouble to come, nevertheless, most Georgians were confident that the 1956 Georgia flag would win convincingly in a Fair Vote.

The statewide referendum as proposed passed in the Democratic House, despite opposition by the usual demagogues and heritage-haters. The Republican Senate had merely to pass the same bill and the Governor would presumably sign his own legislation. This is when the wheeling and dealing became apparent, though some suspect it was going on from the beginning.

A new flag came out of nowhere and the flag bill (HB380) was gutted and modified to cram a new backroom deal flag down the throats of Georgians. This is the Perdue Counterfeit flag that was designed to divide and confuse Georgians who were familiar with historic flags. Because of its resemblance to the Confederate First National, some liked it, especially in comparison to the ugly blue rag.

The outrage, however, came from the fact that the leading contender was removed from the referendum. The 1956 REAL Georgia flag was discarded, leaving only two politician's flags as what they called a "choice." The vast majority of Georgians viewed this as an INSULT, not a "choice." Only 9% of Georgia voters voted in the bogus, hoax referendum held in March of 2004 showing clearly that neither flag on the ballot was the people's choice. Another backroom deal flag had been crammed down the throats of Georgians.

If you know UDC members, ask them in a cordial and respectful manner whether they prefer the REAL Georgia flag or the imposter Counterfeit flag currently flying over the State capitol. For those who prefer the 1956 flag, ask them why the Georgia UDC advocates recognition of an imposter flag. Encourage them to challenge the "politically correct" and politically compromised betrayal represented by Perdue's Imposter flag.

The Perdue 2003 Counterfeit Georgia flag