Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Sunday the “time has come” to change the names of some military installations in the South that memorialize figures from the Confederacy.
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” Gates said there’s a long list of American heroes whose names should be on bases.
“I think opportunities are presented by events, and I think we now have the opportunity particularly to change the names of our military facilities,” he said, referring to the widespread calls for racial justice around the country.
“I've always, I've always puzzled over the fact that we don't have a Fort George Washington or a Fort Ulysses S. Grant,” he said.
“So I think the time has come and I think that there is the opportunity not only to name some of these places for some of our great generals of the 20th century but also individuals such as African American and other minority men, Medal of Honor recipients and so on,” he said.
“We've done that in naming ships, we just haven't done it with our facilities,” he added.
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