PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- A simple social media post the day before brought dozens to the south staircase of the South Dakota State Capitol Friday to celebrate Flag Day with a simple, single photo of the American Flag.  Hughes County Sheriff Patrick Callahan applied for and was granted a permit to hold the gathering.

The photo was take on Flag Day because of Flag Day but came just shy of a week after a hate group took their own unannounced photo with a Nazi flag on the same steps.  Callahan says the event was not a direct counter to the march and protest by The Blood Tribe.

Callahan was impressed by the turn-out on a cloudy, breeze day with rain looming in Pierre.

Callahan wanted the photo op to be non-political and did ask a man with a political poster to not hold the poster during the photo.  The man decided to leave.  May brought their own flags for inclusion in the photo.  Many in the photo held corners on a large American Flag pulled out in the center of the picture.  Among those taking part were District 24 Senator Jim Mehlhaff and Representative Mike Weisgram.