FORT WORTH — Calvin Allen makes his living handcrafting saddles, but his passion is the Civil War -- the "War Between the States," as he calls it.
Since the late 1980s, he has dressed up as a Confederate soldier and marched with fellow re-enactors during the opening parade of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
"They don't want to know the real truth, or the ones that don't know the real truth don't care," said Allen, a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans.
This year, Allen will be there, but his flag won't.
"[The rodeo is] limiting Confederate flag display in official Stock Show activities to the original national flag of the Confederacy," said Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo spokesman Matt Brockman.
That means the Confederate battle flag, often known as the "rebel flag," will not be on display.
Organizers said the decision comes after public complaints, and they are following the lead of other events siding with concern over controversy.
"Icons [and] symbols like the battle flag — while they may be important to some people — unfortunately, they are also embraced by some individuals that unfortunately embrace hate or intolerance," Brockman said.
While the rebel flag won't fly over the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo for the first time in 120 years, the first national flag of the Confederacy, known as the "Stars and Bars," will be welcome. It's less common, but still represents the Confederate States of America.
"Most people are historically illiterate — they just know bumper-sticker history," Allen said, adding that he see's the Stock Show's decision as an attempt to water down history.
"I just thought, 'That's not right; they're trying to ignore over 100 years of heritage," he said.
Flag or not, Allen will still be there to represent his history on opening day of the Stock Show.
