The Many Tributes to Robert E. Lee, and other confederates, to also be removed
West Point Superintendent LTG Gilland issued the following statement. “During the holiday break, we will begin a multi-phased process, in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) directives, to remove, rename or modify assets and real property at the United States Military Academy (USMA) and West Point installation that commemorate or memorialize the Confederacy or those who voluntarily served with the Confederacy.
Over the past several weeks, a team of stakeholders and subject matter experts throughout the West Point enterprise developed a comprehensive plan that meets all of the Commission’s recommendations and complies with DoD directives. Over the holiday break, we will take the following actions:
- We will remove the portrait of Robert E. Lee in Confederate uniform from Jefferson Hall (the USMA Library) and place it in storage at the West Point Museum. Concurrently, we will move the accompanying portrait of Ulysses S. Grant from the library to Grant Hall.
- We will remove the stone bust of Lee at Reconciliation Plaza and place it in storage on post, while moving the accompanying bust of Grant to the front of Grant Hall.
- We will also remove the bronze triptych at the main entrance of Bartlett Hall and place in storage on post until a more suitable location is determined.”
The Bartlett Hall triptych is the sign pictured above that had KKK on it. Westchester Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney said, “On a campus dedicated to educating the future leaders of our nation’s military, there is no suitable location for a symbol of hatred like a plaque immortalizing the Ku Klux Klan. For years, I’ve pushed West Point and our armed forces to remove and rename buildings and monuments related to the Confederacy and I am thrilled to see progress is finally being made.”
All of the references at West Point to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, a famous West Point graduate, will also be removed. “Lastly, by the end of this year, the MHM will recommend names to replace the streets, buildings, and areas throughout West Point currently named for individuals who served in the Confederacy, specifically:
- Lee Road, Beauregard Place, and Hardee Place
- Lee Barracks
- Lee Housing Area
- Lee Child Development Center”
