A group of Civil War re-enactors demonstrated in Door County Saturday for the Gibraltar Historical Association. Some discussed their reaction to the removal of confederate monuments across the country.
"Well you might say it’s in my blood," said Robert Schwandt, a re-enactment volunteer. "My father was a re-enactor back in 1961 and since I was the age of 8 I've have been doing this off and on."
The living history volunteers talked about their love for all of American history and as "history buffs" NBC26 asked them, how they felt about the Civil War monuments being taken down across the country.
"That I'd rather not say," Schwandt said.
It's been a controversial debate across the country after the deadly protest last week in Charlottesville.
"It's a very sad time in our country when we have things that are historic that cause people to have anger and hurt one another," said Gibraltar Historical Association Director Laurie Buske.
However, the re-enactors said for them it's more about teaching others.
"I think whether you approve of them or not, I think it’s part of our history good or bad and you need to learn about it," said David Sielski, President of the Company E of the Second Wisconsin. "Maybe in some cases they are not in a proper location and could be moved somewhere else."
NBC26 also asked them whether they felt the monuments preserve history.
I really don't know if I have a strong opinion," Buske said.
Schwandt beleives they do.
"They preserve history as far as on battle fields," Schwandt said.
Most said they have uncertainty about what should happen if the monuments should be taken down.
