At Fourth Cel­e­bration, Protest Arises Over Con­fed­erate Flag Display

ENDWELL, N.Y. -- For Kyle Caurin, honoring Independence Day at the Fourth of July Extravaganza is special.

"I know how valuable it is to have that kind of freedom, to be able to worship God in a free way, to be able to not have to worry about certain things happening as they do in other places," Kyle Caurin said.

For eight years, Kyle served in the Air Force fighting to protect the rights of Americans. Some exercised those rights Monday after speaking with town organizers about allowing the Confederate Flag to be sold at the event by vendors.

"They had complaints about it, but there was nothing they could legally do to stop it because it's protecting free speech," Endwell resident Charlie Arbuiso said. "I said, 'What if I made a sign?' They told me I have free speech too. So, I'm here exercising my free speech."

"It's just freedom. Freedom. Everyone has their own way of looking at the Confederate flag," vendor Virginia Knichel said.

Vendors said it is a symbol of their heritage, but for some, that flag has a negative representation.

"Racism is bad," Arbuiso said. "We should not tolerate it. It has no place in America and no place on the Fourth of July and the Confederate Flag is just racist."

"The guy is not really bothering us standing there because he has his own freedom of speech. We have ours. We aren't going to take the flag down because of one person," Knichel said.

And despite standing alone, this protester received much support.

"People are offering me water and handing me lemonade, shaking my hand, taking my picture. And I've gotten a little flack too, people that disagree with me. It's alright," Arbuiso said.

And although many were not expecting to see visitors practice that freedom, some say it is what makes America special.

"My father was in the military. My grandfather was in the military. So, knowing that we served our nation, we want to try and preserve the freedoms that we have," Caurin said.

"Independence Day means that each individual has their own freedom to do whatever they want, their own free will to do whatever," said Knichel.