A cannon is shown at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
At Point Park, Larry and Heather Ainsworth, left, of Tampa, Fla., walk in a light rain and prepare to enter the National Park on Thursday. The couple had their infant, Marissa, in a stroller, below.Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park officials confirm that Confederate flags have been removed from the shelves in gift shops at the Chickamauga Battlefield in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Point Park on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee.
Park spokeswoman Kim Coons says the only item taken from shelves are the Confederate flags. Memorabilia like maps, soldier hats, videos, books and other items the gift shops sell in an historical context are still for sale, Coons said.
Phones at the Visitor's Center have been busy all day with call from people who want to know whether the flags are still for sale and what other merchandise is included, she said.
"We are an educational outlet and we want to tell the stories of what occurred here from both perspectives, including the causes of the war," Coons said. "Our job is to preserve and protect the history that occurred here. Reunification occurred here as well."
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.