Washington, D.C. –The commission tasked to provide Congress recommendations for changing names of military bases and other assets that commemorate the Confederacy is now accepting comments from the American public at www.thenamingcommission.gov.
Formed earlier this year, as mandated in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, the commission is establishing the criteria to rename or remove "names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia" that commemorate the Confederacy. In addition, the commission will review any "base, installation, street, building, facility, aircraft, ship, plane, weapon, equipment or any other property owned or controlled by the Department of Defense."
"As we work with the local communities, we welcome input from the American public," said retired Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, the chair of the Naming Commission. "This feedback will help us determine names that appropriately reflect our military today and recognize the courage, values and sacrifices of our military men and women."
The commission has spent the summer meeting with military commanders and community leaders to get feedback on their process, preferences for new names and an understanding of local sensitivities – all of which will be incorporated in the commission’s final recommendations to Congress, due Oct. 1, 2022.
While the number of submissions received for any particular name will not influence its final recommendations, each suggestion will be considered on its own merit by the commission.
Among the DoD assets being considered for renaming are 10 Army installations and two naval vessels: Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Bragg, Fort Lee, Fort Rucker, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Hood, Fort Polk, Fort Belvoir, Fort Pickett, USNS Maury and USS Chancellorsville.
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