Approximately 50 feet from Turco Memorial Field, the Walpole Rebels’ home turf, a Confederate flag hangs from a tree situated in a private property owner’s backyard. Introduced during the Civil War, the Confederate flag has long been a symbol of Southern pride and, to many, is a reminder of slavery.

With the flag in view, many members of Brookline High School’s football team report feeling a mixture of emotions when taking the field against Walpole. Senior Leon Scott said the flag should not hang in the presence of public school grounds.

“A Confederate flag wouldn’t survive an hour in Brookline, let alone right beside the school,” said Scott, expressing his disbelief that the flag is visible from every corner of the field.

According to a 2010 Boston Globe report, the Confederate flag was once a symbol of Walpole High School’s school spirit but was then removed as the Rebels’ logo in 1994.

The flag is on the property of Joe Finneran, a former Rebel football player and 1969 graduate of Walpole High School, as well as a Vietnam War veteran.

Finneran said he attended Walpole High School during a time when the Confederate flag stood for the school’s pride and spirit. He said that the flag is not a political statement but a way to honor the tradition of the Rebel team.

According to Finneran, a local businessman came to him with a proposal to hang the flag on Finneran’s property after the local newspaper, The Walpole Bulletin, refused to a run an advertisement incorporating an image of the Confederate flag. Finneran said that although he would watch the games through the metal fence that separated the school property from his own, he had largely forgotten about the formal symbol of the Rebels until this request.

Finneran’s wife reported that public address announcements are made at the beginning and halftime of each game to say that the Confederate flag does not represent the school’s beliefs.

While the flag does admittedly distract the Warriors, it ultimately drives their determination to come out on top.

“It makes us want to beat Walpole even more,” said Scott.

Although many players feel a mixture of disappointment and frustration with the Confederate flag being publicly displayed, members of the team are strongly supportive of each other.

“In terms of me being white, I think it does affect me just as much because there are other players on my team that are different races and they are my teammates,” said senior Eric Dumas. “I’m about to lay it all on the line with them, so if it bothers them, it definitely bothers me.”

As of now, Brookline players have yet to do anything about the flag that hangs near the field.

“I think we can do something about it by confronting them and discussing our feelings about the flag,” said senior Chris Laguerre.

According to Finneran,in the past allegedly intoxicated local men attempted to remove the flag in the middle of the night, though they ran off when Finneran heard a commotion outside and went to see what was going on.

Finneran, who called himself the “most un-racist person you’ll ever meet,” and his wife stand strongly by their rights under the First Amendment to display the flag behind their house, situated on a quiet cul-de-sac.

“I’ll die before that flag comes down,” said Finneran.

Still, discomfort remains within the ranks of the Warriors football team as long as the flag is visible.

“It just really bothers me that people spend their time and energy banning the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Scott, “when meanwhile there’s a big Confederate flag some miles down the road.”

Clara Dorfman contributed reporting.

Jamie Francona and Kerry Grove can be contacted at [email protected]