ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997 TAG: 9703170054
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LANCASTER, S.C.
At a time when South Carolina's emotions run high over the Confederate battle flag, one black man's indifference to the banner also has struck a chord.
Otis Gaither, 23, went into a burning mobile home last Saturday night and dragged out an unconscious man and his wife, while the flag flew outside.
Since then, Gaither has been showered with letters, calls, dinner invitations and a $500 check.
Gaither said he appreciates the attention but thinks it's unwarranted. "I think anybody would have done the same,'' Gaither said.
Larry Leroy Whitten remains hospitalized in critical condition. His wife, Annette, has been upgraded to serious.
Gaither was driving home late last Saturday after seeing ``Rosewood,'' the movie based on the true account of a white mob destroying a black Florida town in 1923, when he saw the fire.
It was only after rescuing the Whittens that he saw the Confederate flag.. Even so, Gaither thought it was no big deal.
``It's just a flag. It doesn't bother me, not one bit,'' Gaither said. ``I don't know why there's so much hatred these days. I get along with everybody.''
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LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB