Famous Pastor Calls for Confederate Flag to Be 'Set Aside as Part of Our History

Preacher Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, joined a chorus of faith leaders and politicians on Monday in publicly calling for the Confederate flag to be "set aside as part of our history."

Graham, who made the call in a Facebook post, revealed that his great-great-grandfathers battled on behalf of the South during the civil war, and said that it's time to abandon what he said is a divisive symbol.

"Both [my great-great grandfathers] were wounded at Gettysburg and lost limbs. Growing up, many people in the South flew the Confederate flag," Graham wrote. "But I believe that it’s time for this flag to be set aside as a part of our history."

Graham, who has recently been vocal about his opposition to gay marriage, called for unity in America, saying that the nation needs cohesiveness "today more than ever."

"Through faith in Christ we can have love and reconciliation with one another — regardless of race," he wrote. "Jesus Christ can change the human heart and take away the prejudice, racism, and hatred that lies within."

Graham's call to put the flag in the past comes after Walmart removed all Confederate flag merchandise, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the flag's removal from capitol grounds, and numerous faith and political leaders issued similar proclamations.

As TheBlaze previously reported, the controversial flag has once again became a focal point of angst in South Carolina after 21-year-old Dylann Roof allegedly attempted to start a race war by fatally shooting nine members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church last week in Charleston.