Up & Coming Weekly

October 11, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2022 UCW 13 Fort Bragg no more, Fort Liberty is official by HANNAH LEE e Department of Defense announced on Oct. 6 that Secre- tary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo accepting the rec- ommendations of a congressio- nally authorized commission to rename U.S. military installations honoring Confederate soldiers. is included nine army installa- tions, Fort Bragg among them. e Naming Commission, which first met in 2021, completed its analysis earlier this year with recommendations to remove all Department of Defense assets with "the names, symbols, dis- plays, monuments, and parapher- nalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the 'Confederacy') or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America." e commission found over 1,100 Confederate references across the Defense Department. Fort Bragg was identified as the Army installation named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg. e commission recommended changing Fort Bragg's name to Fort Liberty. "In the words of Admiral Mi- chelle M. Howard, the Naming Commission's chair, the commis- sion's goal was to inspire Service members and military communi- ties 'with names or values that have meaning.' e Department's implementation of the Commis- sion's recommendations will do just that - and will give proud new names that are rooted in their lo- cal communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the United States military," Austin's memo stated. Bragg was the only facility to get a proposed name that is not connected to a figure in military history. However, Lawrence Romo, a member of the Nam- ing Commission, said that at the second listening session that included civilians, servicemem- bers and committee leaders, many were "very, very adamant about the name Fort Liberty." e word "Liberty" can be found in the 82nd Airborne Song, and the value of liberty is deeply con- nected with the military. Beginning on Dec. 18, the Department of Defense will start its plan to rename assets. On Fort Bragg, this includes a number of streets, buildings, equipment, uni- forms, databases, police vehicles, recycling bin decals, plaques, the USASOC Memorial Wall, the Parade Field, the 82nd Airborne Museum, and the Hendrick Sta- dium Memorial Wall. However, according to Austin's mandate, some of the commis- sion's recommended changes, such as altering the Department of Defense's memorialization and naming processes, will be imple- mented immediately, according to Austin's mandate. "e installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets. ey are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live," Aus- tin wrote. It will cost the Pentagon an esti- mated $62.5 million to implement the recommendations. e cost estimation for Fort Bragg – soon- to-be Fort Liberty – is $6,374,230. e most expensive military installation to rename. e Department of Defense has until Jan. 1, 2024, to complete all renaming and removals at the installations. NEWS Kids dress up & come to our Truck or Treat! Lots of fun for everyone! Don't miss this free event! LaFayetteFord . com 5202 Raeford Rd ® First 250 people to bring a canned food donation for Second Harvest Food Bank get a free meal from one of the food trucks! LaFayette Ford Scan for more info Saturday, October 22, 11 AM – 2 PM Free family event with games, prizes, trucks on display! HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.

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