S 1367 Session 110 (1993-1994)
S 1367 Joint Resolution, By Jackson
A Joint Resolution to designate the month of April as "Confederate History
Month"; to provide that the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia shall fly
atop the State House during Confederate History Month only; to provide that no
flag other than the United States Flag, the South Carolina State Flag, and the
Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia shall fly atop the State House; and to
require the State Department of Education to promulgate regulations to ensure
the study of Civil War and Reconstruction history.
04/19/94 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
04/19/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-5
A JOINT RESOLUTION
TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF APRIL AS
"CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH"; TO PROVIDE
THAT THE FLAG OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
SHALL FLY ATOP THE STATE HOUSE DURING
CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH ONLY; TO PROVIDE THAT
NO FLAG OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES FLAG, THE
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FLAG, AND THE FLAG OF THE
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA SHALL FLY ATOP THE
STATE HOUSE; AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO
ENSURE THE STUDY OF CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION
HISTORY.
Whereas, by a Concurrent Resolution of the General Assembly in
1962, the Confederate Battle Flag flies atop the State House beneath
the United States Flag and the South Carolina State Flag; and
Whereas, the flagpole atop the State House should fly only two
permanent flags, the United States Flag and the South Carolina State
Flag, as the State House should permanently recognize only those
symbols which represent the sovereignty of the permanent federal and
state governments; and
Whereas, the consecutive periods of American history known as the
Civil War and Reconstruction are universally recognized as two of the
most significant landmark eras in our nation's and our state's heritage;
and
Whereas, the continuous growth of the public's awareness of and
interest in the Civil War and Reconstruction periods remain an integral
part of America's and South Carolina's cultural heritage; and
Whereas, the study, preservation, recognition, and interpretation of
the literature, symbols, occasions, and sites associated with this period
are imbedded in the educational and cultural heritage of both our
country and our State; and
Whereas, the beginning of the Civil War occurred in April of 1861
with the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, and the
effective ending of the Civil War occurred in April of 1865 with the
surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, Virginia,
making April the most important month of the year in Civil War
history; and
Whereas, the Civil War era represents a time when the State of
South Carolina struggled with its sovereignty and is the occasion in
history which presents a compelling rationale for designating the
month of April for flying the Confederate Flag atop the State House;
and
Whereas, during the course of the War, an estimated two hundred
sixty thousand Southerners lost their lives; and
Whereas, the United States Congress has, by joint resolution,
identified the month of April, 1994, as "Civil War History
Month" to mark this significant era of American history; and
Whereas, the heritage of the Civil War deserves the attention and
respect of all individuals in this State. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The month of April shall permanently be designated as
"Confederate History Month" in the State of South
Carolina.
SECTION 2. In accordance with the statewide celebration of
"Confederate History Month", the Battle Flag of the Army
of Northern Virginia (General Robert E. Lee's Army), as described in
Section 3, shall fly atop the State House for the month of April only.
For the remaining eleven months of the year, the Battle Flag of the
Army of Northern Virginia shall fly from a prominent location on the
Capitol grounds other than atop the State House or any other State
Office Building on the Capitol Grounds. No flag other than the
United States Flag and the State Flag shall permanently be flown atop
the State House, and only the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern
Virginia, during the month of April of each year only, shall
periodically be displayed atop the State House.
SECTION 3. The Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is
square with a Greek Cross of blue, edged with white, with thirteen
equal five-pointed stars, upon a red field; with the whole banner
bordered in white. The total outside measurement of the flag to be
flown above the State House is fifty-one inches square, inclusive of
the white border. The blue arms of the cross are 7.5 inches wide and
the white border around the flag proper is 1.5 inches wide. The stars
are five-pointed, inscribed within a circle six inches in diameter, and
are uniform in size. There should be five eyelet holes in the hoist
next to the staff.
SECTION 4. The State Board of Education shall promulgate
regulations to ensure that a comprehensive study of these periods is
incorporated into the curricula of the state's public schools, including
a study of the pre-War era, a study of the War era, and a study of the
post-War Reconstruction era. This program of study shall also include
an identification of the individuals who were influential during these
times, including, but not limited to, John C. Calhoun, Confederate
President Jefferson Davis, Reconstruction-era statesman R. Martin
Delany, Confederate Commanding General Robert E. Lee, President
of the United States Abraham Lincoln, Confederate General James
Longstreet of South Carolina, and Reconstruction-era statesmen Joseph
Rainey and Robert Smalls. In addition, the program of study shall
include a study of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment
(African Descent), redesignated as the 33rd United States Colored
Troops, which was the first regiment of Negro troops raised by the
Union army.
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