Confederate Flag on Gridiron Sparks Painful Civics Lesson

A Newport Beach high school principal apologized Thursday for the use of the Confederate flag during a Civil War-themed halftime show at a football game against Westchester High, a school in Los Angeles with a predominately African American student body.

The principal and student band director at Newport Harbor High School said the school used poor judgment by displaying the 7-by-10-foot flag at last Friday’s event, a sight that angered several Westchester fans who came to Orange County for the game.

“I think the intention of the band was good, but the choice of the flag was not appropriate,” said Newport Harbor Principal Michael Vossen, who sent a letter of apology to Westchester’s principal Thursday.

With its crossed, star-studded blue diagonals on a red field, the Confederate flag still stokes racial and political animosity in the South. There and elsewhere, many African Americans see it as a symbol of slavery, while some whites consider it simply an emblem of Southern pride and heritage.

Several Westchester fans and football players were outraged when they saw the Newport marching band bring the flag onto the field, said Westchester Principal Dana Perryman, who was at the game.

“When we saw it, we were all kind of surprised--the administrators, teachers and parents,” Perryman said Thursday. “Some of the kids were really angry. They said to me, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ ”

Perryman said a group of Newport Harbor teachers quickly apologized.

The Newport Harbor marching band, which has no African American members, has performed the routine all season. The show, called “A Nation Divided Stands United,” portrays a Civil War battle and illustrates how the nation came together after the bloody conflict, said marching band director Rob Henthorn.

Large replicas of the Confederate and Union flags are used as props to illustrate each side, as are two bigger flags with pictures of gray and blue Civil War caps, and another flag on a center stage showing a Union and Confederate soldier arm in arm. The band’s playlist during the show includes “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Amazing Grace” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”

“We try to show a balance and not glorify or vilify any side,” Henthorn said.

Because of the uproar, neither the Confederate nor Union flags will be displayed anymore, he said. “We offended them, so of course we need to write a letter apologizing. I want them to know I am truly sorry. I would never do anything intentionally to insult another school or race. . . . The desire was to portray an era of history accurately.”

Said Perryman: “There’s so much controversy over this flag. It truly hurt the feelings of the people who were watching. There are many ways to depict the Civil War. I do not think you need a Confederate flag to do so.”