Military bases drop Confederate soldier names to rebrand.

Army Bases Named After Confederate Generals to be Renamed

The Naming Commission tasked with renaming Army bases named in honor of Confederate generals has announced that bases like Fort Pickett, which bears the name of General George Pickett, will soon be “rebranded.”

“What was galling is that we would still in this day and age have names of bases that represented traitors, who fought against their country and for the purpose of slavery.”

Retired Lieutenant General Tom Bostick, a member of the Naming Commission, commented on the move, saying, “I wonder what took so long.”

Resistance to Change

In Blackstone, Virginia, which is the nearest town close to Fort Pickett, The former mayor, Billie Coleburn, now works as an editor for the area’s local newspaper and also commented on the move.

“Here in rural southern Virginia, change comes very slowly, and we don’t always embrace change. There are many people I talk to – many, many of them are dear friends of mine – that are strongly opposed to it being renamed… “I’d say the majority of folks around here would tell you in a heartbeat, keep it Pickett,” Coleburn said.

The word “Pickett” is everywhere you look at the fort’s fire station. The chief of the station, Danny Clary, had a few words to share as well regarding the name change. When asked how he felt about it, Clary responded, “Sad. I understand why they’re doing it, but it’s been here a long time, and it’s going to take a lot of people a while to adjust.”

New Names for Army Bases

It will now be called “Fort Barfoot,” taking its name from Col. Van Barfoot, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor during World War II. It is the first Army base in the country to bear a Native American name.

Fort Bragg will change its name to Fort Liberty this week, and another base named after Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, Fort Polk in Louisiana, is also planning on making the move to change its name as well.

Fort Benning, which was the former name of another base paying reverence to Brig. Gen. Henry Benning, who was a known member of the Ku Klux Klan, changed its name to Fort Moore, referencing the notable military couple Hal and Julia Moore. Julia permanently altered the once-impersonal system that delivered “regret to inform you” telegrams to the families of the slain, and Hal was the commander of American troops in the first head-to-head battle against the North Vietnamese.

Nine Army bases all together, including the old Fort Pickett that is now formerly known as Fort Barfoot, will no longer have names honoring Confederates.

Changing History

Bases are not the only things changing names, either. All Confederate monuments and memorabilia that is scattered around American military sites is reportedly going through major renovation, if not now, then most likely soon in the future.

Bostick expressed amazement at the extent to which Confederate artifacts were ingrained in Army culture.

“There were hundreds of things that needed to change. There’s a Lee Gate and Lee Housing Area and Lee Barracks at West Point.”

However, many critics of the rebrand claim that new progressive military leaders are attempting to erase history while appeasing liberals and lefties with the name changes.

“We’re not going to end racism in one fell swoop, but this isn’t a bad place to start,” Seidule said.

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