Image of the crowd holding signs and waving flags at Love Field

The controversial Confederate battle flag seen in this photograph may have been brought to Dallas Love Field as a show of school spirit rather than or in addition to a commentary on President Kennedy's support of the Civil Rights Movement. In other photographs, the unidentified young man holding the battle flag can be seen wearing a cardigan with a capital "C," with two crossed swords at the bottom of the letter. This may indicate that this student was attending South Garland High School in Dallas County at the time. Like many other southern schools at the time, South Garland had a Confederate-themed mascot, the Colonel, and crossed swords remain (as of 2021) an emblem of the school. Other area schools had similar Confederate themes at the time. Until 1972, Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas used the Confederate battle flag seen here as a school emblem, with the Rebel serving as their school mascot. From 1951 to 1971, Arlington State College in Tarrant County, west of Dallas, was also home to the Rebels, with the Confederate battle flag flown on campus and Dixie accepted as the school's unofficial fight song. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

One of the signs visible in this photo is also a part of the Museum's permanent collection (2018.021.0002). A handmade cardboard sign welcoming President Kennedy to Love Field was created and used by student Jan Sittel on November 22, 1963. Sittel can be seen leaning against the chain-link fence. Her cardboard sign states "All the Way with Jack! Grass Roots Dem." - Stephanie Allen-Givens, Collections and Exhibits Manager