Images Courtesy The Naming Commission

It looks like a new name has been selected for Fort Bragg: Get ready for Fort Liberty.

The Naming Commission released its suggested names for the nine Army installations that were originally named to commemorate the Confederacy. Those nine bases: Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; Fort Lee, Virginia; and Fort Pickett, Virginia. (SEE ALL NINE NEW BASE NAMES BELOW.)

“The Naming Commission sought to find names that would be inspirational to the Soldiers and civilians who serve on our Army posts, and to the communities who support them,” ADM Michelle J. Howard (U.S. Navy, ret.), Chair of the Naming Commission said. “We realized that we had more heroes than we did bases to name. And we were overwhelmed with the greatness of the American Soldier – from those who gave their entire adult lives to the Army, to those who sacrificed themselves in valorous acts. We were reminded that courage has no boundaries by man-made categories of race, color, gender, religion, or creed.”

The new names will be added to the Commission’s final report to Congress, due by October 1 of this year. Congress will then have final approval over where, when and how the name changes will go into effect.

“In the 21st century, liberty remains the central tenet of America and its Army,” the information sheet for the new Fort Liberty name said. “Liberty graces our currency and our landmarks, and is essential to our founding documents. Liberty unites our varied politics – although different Americans have always held different ideas about how to best secure the blessings of liberty to the citizenry, they have always agreed that the enjoyment, enlargement, and endorsement of liberty is paramount to our national purpose. Liberty continues to unite the Army. It features on crests, centers the Divisional song of the storied 82d Airborne Division, and anchors the motto of the equally heralded U.S. Army Special Forces.”

The Commission originally narrowed the options down to 87 names, earlier this year. After listening sessions at each installation, and additional public feedback, The Commission got more than 34,000 submissions, including 3,670 unique names. The large majority of the names were legendary American icons, like Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall, Audie Murphy, Harriet Tubman and a whole host of Medal of Honor recipients.

“From privates to generals, we found hundreds of military members who exemplified the core values of the Army. As we visited installations, we were touched by the contributions of the Soldiers’ families and community groups who support them. They work faithfully and tirelessly alongside our military members,” ADM. Howard said. “Our goal was to inspire today’s Soldiers and the local communities with names or values that have meaning. We wanted names and values that underpin the core responsibility of the military, to defend the Constitution of the United States. We wanted names and values that evoke confidence in all who serve. Confidence that by emulating those whose names are on the installations, we too can rise to every challenge, overcome every obstacle, achieve excellence, and, if necessary, sacrifice our lives for this country and her people.

“These names we are recommending embody the best of the United States Army and America.”

The Commission is set to deliver a report to Congress later this year that outlines all the costs associated with a name change, as well as the ways it all needs to happen. The plan is currently required to be implemented around the beginning of 2024 at the earliest.

“Following upcoming engagements with installation leaders, personnel and their counterparts in local communities to discuss the names, the Commission will select the final names for recommendation in the naming plan due to Congress by Oct. 1, 2022.”

Here’s all nine of the new military base names: