Efforts to Rewrite History
In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Representative Bob Good expressed his concerns over the recent removal of Arlington National Cemetery’s ‘Reconciliation Monument’ and the broader attempts by the Naming Commission to rewrite the nation’s history.
Encouraging Robust Conversation
Good emphasized the importance of historical sites as healthy environments to observe diverse perspectives of historical events, engage in varied viewpoints, and inspire robust conversation as the nation remembers its history.
Request for Hearings and Documents
In addition to his letter to Austin, Good also reached out to Representative James Comer, urging him to hold a hearing on the Naming Commission and request any relevant documents from the panel. Good asked Austin to compile all correspondence and documents related to the Naming Commission, including memos to private entities and the White House.
The History of the Reconciliation Monument
The Reconciliation Monument, unveiled in 1914 by then-President Woodrow Wilson, was commissioned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. However, the Pentagon’s Naming Commission, formed in the aftermath of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, decided to remove the memorial as part of their mandate to rename and remove military installations named after the Confederacy.
Legal Challenges and Final Removal
Although the removal of the Reconciliation Monument faced legal challenges, a judge ultimately cleared the way for its removal. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin had previously requested the monument to be relocated to the Virginia Military Institute.