Heritage focus of Fort Mill’s July 4 celebration

John Wilson was among hundreds donning red, white and blue as the cannons fired in downtown Fort Mill Saturday, but his was in the form of a Confederate flag T-shirt – worn to remember his father and not to make a political statement.

“This isn’t just about heritage; it has a family connection,” he said, tilting his chin down to the flag on the front of his shirt. “Every time I look at it, I think of him.”

Wilson’s father Steve died in September after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – or ALS. Last year’s Independence Day Celebration in Fort Mill was the last time Steve Wilson left their home before his death. Stricken with the degenerative disease, he watched the cannons in Confederate Park fire from their family car.

“That’s heritage,” Terry Wilson said, nodding to the flag on her son’s shirt. “That’s part of his dad here today.”

John, who lives in Rock Hill and is a Civil War re-enactor, said his family is steeped in Civil War history. Their ancestors fought for the Union and the Confederacy, including one in the 66th North Carolina Infantry.

“He fought in the Battle of Atlanta, was wounded in the leg and was taken to Camp Chase, and he died there,” John Wilson said. “The family never knew what happened to him. His wife died not knowing what happened. We went and visited and found the gravestone.”

The Confederate flag is at the center of a new divide. Calls to remove it from Statehouse grounds have increased in the weeks after nine parishioners were murdered in a historically black Charleston church, allegedly at the hands of a white supremacist. Those calling for the flag’s removal say it is a symbol of racism and hatred, while flag supporters say it’s part of their Southern heritage.

“We don’t push it on anybody,” Terry Wilson said. “I’d take (Steve) out to reenactments, and he’d be out there in his wheelchair while they shot the cannon off. He enjoyed doing that, but he didn’t push it off on anyone.”

John Wilson thinks his father would be “upset and confused” by the current debate over the flag.

“He’d be like, why is there not a place for everybody just to get along and to have what they think, and to have what the other side thinks as well,” he said. “You’ve got to be ‘this way’ or you’re wrong.”

Fort Mill Town Councilman James Shirey said Saturday’s celebration was one of not only independence, but of his family’s move to Fort Mill three years ago on July 4. His wife Shelby said the holiday is important when remembering her family’s military heritage.

“Everybody in my family has served,” she said as they marched down Confederate Street. “And there’s been a family member of mine in every single war.”

Mayor Danny Funderburk asked those attending the day’s opening event Saturday morning at First Baptist Church to remember servicemen and women past and present, and to make life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness “day-to-day philosophies.”

“It’s in this spirit of freedom that the Fourth of July should be celebrated,” he said. “Our military men and women are serving all over the world to support the vision that became a reality 200 years ago. Many of them spend this holiday away from their families so that we can be with ours. I hope between the softball and barbecue and picnics and fireworks, everybody will take a few moments to say a prayer of thanks.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Heritage focus of Fort Mill’s July 4 celebration."