to the curator of the state military museum where it will go on permanent display. >> i look at it as a gateway for growth for the community. >> i think what it is actually creating is a window of opportunity to attack other things that are confederate related. >> reporter: until recently calling for the confederate flag's removal in this state was considered political suicide. but all that changed with last month's killing of nine members of a historic african-american church in charleston. the alleged gunman an avowed white supremacist who had posed for photos with the battle flag. >> allow us to honor those veterans who gave their life in defense of this state, and let's move forward. >> reporter: calls for the flag's removal led to an emotional debate in the state house over whether the flag was a symbol of slavery or valor. but the tide turned when a republican related to the first president of the confederacy,