'We are abiding by that law:' Fort Bragg addresses Fort Liberty questions on website

FORT BRAGG — While Fort Bragg is still retaining its name until the June 2 redesignation ceremony, a new section on the post’s website addresses commonly asked questions about the name change.

The site details points that post officials have made over the past few months about why Fort Bragg’s name is changing and how Fort Liberty was picked as the new name but also provides information about the impact the change will have on birth certificates and addresses.

Here’s a look.

For those who have served at Fort Bragg

The site states that “no act can take away” from the contributions of the service members who have served at Fort Bragg.

“We understand the original name’s prestige in the eyes of some of the soldiers, families, and our nation, was built upon the bravery and dedication of those who served here, not because of an obscure, incompetent, ill-tempered confederate general’s legacy,” the site states, referring to Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg after whom the post was named. “Nevertheless, our nation’s representatives felt a need to move on from that name and put the redesignation into law, and we are abiding by that law.”

Fort Bragg was designated as Camp Bragg in 1918 and is currently named after North Carolina native Braxton Bragg, an artillery officer who fought in the Mexican-American War, was a Confederate general in the Civil War and was associated with being a slave owner. 

More: Updates on the renaming Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty

More: Bragg officials say Gold Star mom inspired Liberty name change

Why wasn’t the post renamed after Edward Bragg or a Medal of Honor recipient?

According to the site, more than 188 names were reviewed before the name Fort Liberty was decided.

While Union Brig. Gen. Edward S. Bragg was considered and there are about 50 Medal of Honor recipients associated with the installation, “the commission decided no one individual could be selected to encompass the scope and spirit of the installation,” the site states.

More: These are the stories of Fort Bragg's Medal of Honor recipients

More: Wisconsin senator proposes renaming Fort Bragg after Union cousin of Confederate general

Will Confederate grave markers be removed?

According to the site, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act “specifically excludes grave markers from removal,” and the Naming Commission “did not recommend disturbing remains or modifying grave markers in any way.”

More: 'A knife fight in a dark room': Why this Civil War site is being preserved at Fort Bragg

Will people born on Fort Bragg need to change their birth certificates?

According to the website, no change is needed if Fort Bragg was the name of the installation at the time of the birth.

Will a change of address form need to be submitted to the post office?

According to the site, officials are working with the U.S. Postal Service, which will “indefinitely recognize both new and old addresses.”

The site states a change of address form does not need to be submitted for addresses that have had street name changes.

More: These 9 Fort Bragg roads will be renamed

Will businesses off-post have to change names, and what should souvenir shops do with inventory?

According to the site, “the installation has no authority over individual citizens or businesses to rename their property or businesses.”

The site states that Congress “may provide funds to assist local communities with the transition” and that local leaders should contact their congressional representatives “to work out a solution.”

More: Fort Bragg isn't the only one changing its name: Area businesses jump on the bandwagon

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg addresses commonly asked questions about Fort Liberty