The state of Mississippi adopted the flag with the Confederate battle emblem on it 126 years ago, back in 1894.

At the time the state was facing a budget crisis.

"There were generations of Confederate veterans who were aging, dying and in need of more social support from the state government including pensions that they had been promised," said Stephanie Rolph, a history professor at Millsaps College.

With political pressure mounting, lawmakers found another way to satisfy the Confederate veterans.

"One of the ways they satisfied the veterans while preserving some of the budget priorities was to create a flag that honored the Confederate soldiers' service by recognizing the Confederate battle flag as part of the state flag," Rolph said.