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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.1048 Ratification Number:374 Act Number:342 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:20000119 Primary Sponsor:Moore All Sponsors:Moore Drafted Document Number:l:\s-res\tlm\002purp.whb.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:20000526 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:20000606 Subject:Purple Heart Day, third Saturday in February; Veterans' and Military Affairs, honor recipients of; Holidays History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 20000628 Act No. A342 ------ 20000606 Signed by Governor ------ 20000531 Ratified R374 House 20000526 Read third time, enrolled for ratification House 20000525 Read second time, unanimous consent for third reading on the next Legislative day House 20000524 Committee report: Favorable 25 HJ House 20000208 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Senate 20000204 Read third time, sent to House Senate 20000203 Read second time, unanimous consent for third reading on Friday, 20000204 ------ 20000203 Scrivener's error corrected Senate 20000202 Committee report: Favorable 11 SJ Senate 20000119 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ referred to Committee Versions of This Bill Revised on February 2, 2000 - Word format Revised on February 3, 2000 - Word format Revised on May 24, 2000 - Word format
(A342, R374, S1048)
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 53, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-120, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE THIRD SATURDAY IN FEBRUARY EACH YEAR AS PURPLE HEART DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART FOR MILITARY MERIT AND THE EXCEPTIONAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS DECORATION.
Whereas, the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly called "The Purple Heart", is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier; and
Whereas, General Washington conceived of and authorized this eloquent and forceful symbol of citizen responsibility in his General Orders of August 7, 1782, after being deprived by the Continental Congress of his usual means of reward for soldiers serving in the Revolutionary War; and
Whereas, the United States War Department revived the Purple Heart decoration on February 22, 1932, which has since been awarded to more than 800,000 men and women from all walks of life, religions, creeds, and ethnicity; and
Whereas, the Purple Heart, definitely a combat decoration, is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the United States Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded; and
Whereas, the "Military Order for the Purple Heart", the only strictly combat organization in existence, was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration and is composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients; and
Whereas, the Purple Heart was created to "cherish virtuous ambition in soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit," and to honor "not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service". Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Purple Heart Day
SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 53-3-120. The third Saturday in February each year is designated as Purple Heart Day in South Carolina to honor the decoration itself and those men and women who have received it."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 31st day of May, 2000.
Approved the 6th day of June, 2000.
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