Virginia military base renamed Fort Lee to honor Black Medal of Honor recipient, not Confederate general [View all]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 11:10 AM, Jul 12, 2025


A military installation in Virginia has returned to its former name but with a new honoree, as Fort Gregg-Adams was officially renamed Fort Lee during a ceremony Friday morning.

"We mark the transition between two proud chapters in our installations history," Fort Lee Garrison Commander Col. Rich Bendelewski said at the ceremony.

The name change is part of President Donald Trump's directive to restore the original names of seven military bases that were previously renamed due to their Confederate ties.

While the base has reclaimed its original name, it now honors a different historical figure. Rather than Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the installation now pays tribute to Private Fitz Lee, a Black soldier from Dinwiddie County who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions as a Buffalo Soldier during the Spanish-American War in Cuba.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/military/virginia-military-base-renamed-fort-lee-to-honor-black-medal-of-honor-recipient-not-confederate-general