Two years ago, nine U.S. military bases that were previously named after confederate leaders were fortunately renamed to cut ties to the confederacy. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is currently working to circumvent these changes and already has by reverting Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg. Despite the opposition of our country’s leaders, we at The Crusader argue that maintaining the original name changes is not only important, it’s imperative.

Firstly, though some may claim that renaming removes historical context, but we argue that it only adds on to it by showing national progress. For example, Fort Bragg was previously named after a confederate leader, someone who embodies everything we fought against. Instead, the fort was renamed after the essential American value of liberty. A value so prominent, it’s engraved into our pledge of allegiance and woven into the fabric of our flag. This name change not only allows us as a country to reflect on our past, it gives us the opportunity to represent what we fought for, and what we value most.

Furthermore, with renaming comes the opportunity to honor more deserving military figures. A huge positive of the 2023 renaming initiative was that many U.S. military members were getting the recognition they deserved. Heroes like Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams were honored for their positive impact on African Americans and Women in the military. Renaming the bases to honor those who fought for our country and those in it, helps us as a country to recognize our own military leaders who really deserve it.

For these reasons, we believe that renaming these military bases is a necessity.  So despite the fact that our country’s leaders are trying to curtail America’s progress, we at The Crusader urge you to advocate for change. Because even though there’s a battle ahead, the time to push against regression and fight for change is now.