There are 13 flags at the John S. Stevens pavilion at Veterans Memorial Plaza near downtown Wichita. In addition to the Confederate flag, some of the other flags are the Columbus Standard; the Viking Banner of Leif Ericson; Great Britain’s Union Jack; the 13-star flag; the French Tricolor, symbolizing France’s involvement in the development of the United States; the 34-star flag representing when Kansas became a state; the 48-star flag; and the 50-star flag.

The plaque at the Confederate flag:

“As secession swept the South, various state banners were created to symbolize the ‘independence’ movement. Soon the Confederacy found it necessary, however, to adopt an appropriate ‘national’ flag. The first was the famous Stars and Bars. During the Battle of Bull Run it was found that this Confederate Banner looked too much like the Stars and Stripes.

“After some experimentation, the Battle Flag or Southern Cross becomes the best known and generally recognized symbol of the South until April 9, 1865, when the war was over. Lincoln’s prophecy on the divided nation had become true. ‘I do expect it will come to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.’ On April 14, 1865, the Stars and Stripes were ceremoniously raised again over the South. Ironically, the event commanded little public press, for a few hours later Abraham Lincoln was assassinated as he sat in the President’s box at the Ford Theater in Washington.”