Bacon: U.S. military installations honoring Confederates must be renamed

Following recent action by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, which banned the Confederate battle flag from all installations, ships and aircraft, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) on June 11 introduced bipartisan legislation that would form the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations.

“As the most diverse and integrated part of American society, it is only right that our installations bear the names of military heroes who represent the best ideals of our Republic,” Rep. Bacon said. “We owe this to ourselves, to our military, our veterans, and to every American who will answer the call. Now is the time to embrace our values, ‘that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.’”

Specifically, the commission authorized under H.R. 7155 would be composed of individuals appointed by service secretaries and members of Congress to review and make recommendations for renaming installations and department property that have designations not in line with the values of the United States or the mission of the U.S. military, according to Rep. Bacon’s office.

For instance, according to the congressman’s office, the U.S. Army currently has 10 bases and facilities named after leaders of the Confederacy.

“Removing these names will be another step in an honest accounting of our history and an expression that we continue to strive to form a more perfect union,” said bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD).

H.R. 7155 has been referred to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee for consideration.