Honor Tradition and Inclusion: Reject Renaming the USNS Harvey Milk
As a former Marine and soldier, I know what it means to honor service and uphold the traditions that bind us together. I’m Troy Haley, running for Dutchess County Legislature District 20, and I write to you as a fellow service member who believes that honoring our sailors and the values they represent must remain above partisan or ideological impulses. Renaming the USNS Harvey Milk not only disrespects the memory of a dedicated Navy veteran, but also undermines the very traditions that keep our force strong.
Lieutenant Harvey Milk served honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a diver on a submarine rescue ship before he was forced out solely because of his sexual orientation. His four years of committed service exemplify the selflessness and bravery we demand of every sailor. Stripping Lt. Milk's name from this ship is an attempt to erase his service and send a message that anyone’s sacrifice for this country can be discarded based on who they are.
Navy tradition holds a ship’s name in the highest regard. Once a vessel is christened, its name carries forward on countless deployments, ceremonies, and in the hearts of every sailor who serves aboard. Renaming a ship is almost taboo—reserved only for the rarest, most compelling circumstances. To erase Harvey Milk’s name now is to sever that critical connection to our history, dishonoring all who came before and weakening the morale of those who serve today.
Make no mistake: Secretary Hegseth’s decision isn’t about strengthening our Navy—it’s about score-settling and sending a political message. This order was timed deliberately during Pride Month, aiming to roll back diversity and inclusion efforts that have helped our armed forces become stronger. I stand firmly with every LGBTQ service member who wears our nation’s uniform. Diversity in the military is not a concession or a checkbox—it is America at its finest: each individual’s unique background, perspective, and courage making our forces more effective and our country more just.
The USNS Harvey Milk belongs to the John Lewis class of oilers, each named for a civil or human rights leader who embodied courage and service. Other vessels under threat—those honoring Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Medgar Evers—are living testaments to our nation’s progress and resilience. Taking away these names is nothing less than a willful erasure of those who broke down barriers so that all Americans could pursue the promise of equality and freedom. We owe it to our fellow citizens—and to history itself—to remember those sacrifices.
When I donned my uniform, I swore an oath to defend the Constitution and the values it stands for. As your next representative in the Dutchess County Legislature, I will fight to preserve those values here at home. I believe that honoring military tradition and uplifting diversity go hand in hand. Renaming the USNS Harvey Milk betrays those ideals, diminishes our shared heritage, and erodes the unity that makes us strong.
Join me in pushing back against these sad attempts to erase history and the contributions of every American. Let us remind our leaders that true patriotism honors every veteran’s sacrifice and recognizes diversity as a foundation of American strength. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to earning your vote on June 24.
