Fort Bragg to officially change name to Fort Liberty, celebration planned for June

Fort Bragg will officially have its named changed to Fort Liberty, according to deputy director of public affairs Matt Visser.

Planning is underway for a June 2 ceremony and celebration. The event will be open to veterans and the general public.

The renaming of the post generated controversy since 2021 when Congress voted to change the names of nine military installations named after Confederate figures. Fort Bragg is on that list.

Cheryl Rivas, Fort Bragg public affairs director, said, "The the name liberty honors the heroism, sacrifices and values of the soldiers, the service members, the civilians and families that served and live within this installation."

Fort Bragg is named for Gen. Braxton Bragg, who served in the Confederate Army and owned a plantation where people were enslaved.

The Fort Bragg Renaming Commission received more than 3,400 submissions for names. Some of the names that made the short list included Dwight Eisenhower, Colin Powell and Harriet Tubman.

The commission estimates it will cost more than $6.3 million to rename Fort Bragg.