Confederate flag in Bayport, Blue Point St. Patrick’s Day parade

A Confederate flag was flown from a truck in the 35th annual Bayport Blue Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, Bayport Blue Point Chamber of Commerce president Karl Auwaerter confirmed in an emailed statement.

“We deeply regret the disturbing display that occurred during this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade,” Auwaerter said in the statement. “What happened today has never happened before and we were unprepared.”

Auwaerter said in the statement the parade committee did not “have a protocol for this.”

“For that reason, we did not act as quickly as we should have,” he said. “Once the information was relayed, we worked quickly during the parade to have the displays removed. Please be assured that this will never happen again.”

The flag was flying from a truck next to a flag for The Fish Store, according to a statement posted to the Bayport seafood market and restaurant’s Facebook page.

”In no way, shape or form do we support this flag or its meaning,” the statement read.

The flag was being flown by a “friend of a friend,” according to the statement.

“We apologize for any misunderstanding and anyone that was offended,” the statement read.

The parade ran from Montauk Highway and Snedecor Avenue to Montauk Highway and Blue Point Avenue. More than 60 organizations, bands and floats from the two communities participated.

“The one day everybody in both communities come together, we can all share some good times,” Auwaerter told Newsday during the parade.