Confederate veterans not inducted into Hall of Fame

File photo.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Monday was supposed to be a joyous celebration of the new class of Florida Veterans inducted into the state's Veterans Hall of Fame, but a wild scene erupted because of a Confederate veteran supporter.

The Department of Veteran's Affairs went ahead with the ceremony and inducted five new members into the state's Hall of Fame.

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"Confederate veterans served Florida, too. Why are they not being put into the Veteran's Hall of Fame? It's a scandal," said David McCallister, with Sons of Confederate Veterans. "They should be alongside you all."

Florida's governor and cabinet rejected three Confederate soldiers from the hall of fame earlier this year, including a former governor, U.S. senator and Florida National Guardsman.

"These veterans fought for Florida under this flag," McCallister said.

Dale Landry with the Florida NAACP has been against including the soldiers all year.

"Absolutely not, absolutely not," Landry said. "They should keep it just the way it is for the veterans who died serving our country."

Calls for removing Confederate symbols have increased around the country, and Florida's capital city had its own flag controversy this past weekend.

The Confederate flag was placed in front of Tallahassee City Hall Friday night before being removed. City officials condemned the move.

The main reason Confederate soldiers aren't currently allowed in the Hall of Fame is they never served in the U.S. military because they fought for the Confederacy.