Defense Department commission plans initial visits to 10 military sites with Confederate names

The Defense Department commission tasked with evaluating whether to remove symbols and rename militay installations, buildings and ships honoring the Confederacy announced its first site visits for the summer and fall: Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Hood, Fort Rucker, Fort Lee, Fort Polk, Fort Belvoir, and Fort Pickett. The Navy has also selected the U.S. Naval Ship Maury for consideration.  

The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act mandated the creation of an eight-person commission to develop a plan for renaming assets or removing symbols that commemorate soldiers who voluntarily served in the Confederacy or honored it.  Commission members will meet with commanders and hear input from the communities at each of the sites, according to the chair or the commission, retired Admiral Michelle Howard.