West Point Military Academy Moves To Tear Down Confederate Symbols

Famed military academy West Point, which saw the likes of Ulysses S Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, and Douglas MacArthur among its ranks, will soon remove a portrait of former superintendent Robert E Lee—commander of the Confederate forces. 

The portrait, which depicts Lee in his Confederate uniform, has been hanging in the school’s library since the 1950s. It will be moved to storage, along with a stone bust of the Civil War’s top southern general. 

In addition, Lee’s quote on honor—“a true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others”—will be taken off from the academy’s Honor Plaza. 

A trio of bronze plaques, portraying key events in America’s history, will also be taken down. Although it has images of heroes like Benjamin Franklin and Clara Barton, the plaques featured Lee and the Confederacy, and worse still, an armed man in a ‘Ku Klux Klan’ hood. 

According to the Associated Press, these moves come as the Department of Defense recently issued a directive ordering West Point to look into allegations of racial injustice, and to remove monuments within its compounds that “commemorate or memorialize the Confederacy.” 

In total, 13 confederate assets will be removed or stored by December 2023. Memorabilia removed during this process will be relocated to appropriate sites, such as museums or other suitable venues.

“Academy leaders and key stakeholders developed a comprehensive plan to ensure that historical artifacts will be professionally and respectfully handled during the execution phase,” said academy superintendent Lt Gen Steve Gilland.

[via AP and West Point Military Academy, cover image via Demerzel21 | Dreamstime.com]