Pierson Library

A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases: Connor Williams Author Talk
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an evening with author, historian, and Professor Connor Williams as he discusses his powerful new book, A Promise Delivered. In 2020, a bipartisan act of Congress created the Naming Commission and charged it with a historic mission: to rename nine of the U.S. military’s most prominent bases, all of which had been named for Confederate leaders. Over twenty months, the commission gathered input from tens of thousands of Americans and carefully examined the nation’s past to select new names that reflect its highest ideals. The result was a list of ten remarkable Americans, individuals whose courage, service, and leadership embody the best of the country. Drawing on his firsthand experience as the commission’s lead historian, Williams brings these figures to life, from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Civil War surgeon Mary Walker to General Richard Cavazos.
In 2025, the restoration of the original Confederate base names reignited national debate, underscoring the ongoing struggle over how we remember and honor the past. A Promise Delivered offers a compelling and deeply human account of that effort, one that invites us to reflect on history, identity, and the values we choose to uphold. Copies of the book will be available for purchase from our friends at the Flying Pig Bookstore.
