From Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04):
McClellan Statement on Renaming of Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after Fort Lee was renamed as Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Lieutenant General Arthur Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams:
“This is a momentous day for our district, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and our nation. Fort Lee, one of the top Army logistics bases in the country, has borne the name of Confederate General Robert E. Lee for far too long. A traitor to the United States and an unapologetic proponent of slavery in America, General Lee worked to uphold coercive systems of power at a tenuous time in our nation’s history.
“As our Commonwealth and our country continue working to dismantle long-standing systems of oppression and address institutional racism, this is another encouraging step in those efforts. Our nation’s military installations, facilities, and other properties should reflect the values our nation continuously strives to achieve – freedom, liberty, and justice – and their names should honor those who fought for those fundamental rights for every American.
“Lt. General Arthur Gregg and Lt. Colonel Charity Adams represent the best our nation’s military has to offer. History-makers and barrier-breakers by their own right, they both surpassed the boundaries of what was widely deemed achievable for African Americans during a time of racial segregation in our nation. At the time of his retirement, Lt. General Gregg, a renowned military logistician and 35-year Army veteran, was the highest-ranking minority general and the second-highest ranking Black servicemember to date. Lt. Colonel Charity Adams was the highest-ranking Black woman officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II and commanded the first and only unit of predominantly Black women who served overseas. Both individuals blazed new paths for African Americans and sought to challenge segregation and outmoded systems of thinking.
“The renaming of Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams is due in large part to the tireless work of my predecessor, the late Donald McEachin, who continuously engaged with the U.S. Naming Commission during the renaming process, held independent, community-led panels, and built support both in local communities here in our Commonwealth and in the halls of Congress.
“I commend the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Naming Commission for their commitment to righting these historical wrongs and ensuring the names of our nation’s military facilities, memorials, and assets align with our long-standing desire for an inclusive and more perfect union.”
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