"While many Americans regard Confederate statues as symbols of hate and want them removed from public spaces, the National Park Service values them.

Park officials say they're worth preserving and a good way to recognize the Civil War and other events that changed the course of the nation.

'Don't rewrite history,' Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said during a visit to Antietam National Battlefield in western Maryland last month. 'Understand it for what it is and teach our kids the importance of looking at our magnificent history as a country and why we are what we are'."

Rob Hotakainen reports for Greenwire August 16, 2017. [2]