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TO CONGRATULATE THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD, ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO SHARE A PASSION FOR SERVICE AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THEIR FELLOW SOUTH CAROLINIANS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE GUARD'S THREE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO EXPRESS GRATEFUL THANKS FOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THESE DEDICATED SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN.
Whereas, the South Carolina military has recorded a long and storied history since it was first organized as a militia at Charles Town on Albermarle Point in 1670. This militia was the earliest manifestation of the South Carolina State Guard. In the early days of the Province of Carolina, the militia repulsed French and Spanish invasions, attacked St. Augustine in 1706, and won the Yemassee Indian War in 1715. The militia invaded Spanish Florida once more in 1749 and repulsed frontier Indian attacks from 1716 to 1761, including the Cherokee Indian Wars; and
Whereas, during the American Revolution, South Carolina militia units were re-formed into three brigades under General Francis Marion in the Lowcountry, General Thomas Sumter in the Midlands, and General Andrew Pickens in the Piedmont. They fought scores of engagements against the British during the Revolution. The militia also volunteered to defend the State in the War of 1812 and again in 1846 in the Mexican War; and
Whereas, during the period from 1917-1920, the South Carolina militia was activated to replace the South Carolina National Guard units serving in France. On March 21, 1941, Governor Burnet Maybank signed a law establishing the "South Carolina Defense Force"; and
Whereas, now called the South Carolina State Guard, still an all-volunteer organization, the Guard consists of highly trained and ready professionals. When serious natural or man-made disasters strike our State, the mission of the State Guard is to respond quickly to protect people and property and to help communities recover. Acting in coordination with the National Guard, law enforcement, and other state, county, and municipal agencies during time of emergency, the State Guard is part of the South Carolina Military Department under the direction of the adjutant general. Its commander-in-chief is the governor; and
Whereas, when the State Guard was needed to respond to several past hurricanes, its personnel were there to answer the call. In 2018 alone, the Guard's nearly one thousand members volunteered over ninety thousand hours in protecting the lives and property of South Carolinians alongside federal, state, and local first responders; and
Whereas, further, Guard members engage in search and rescue operations, medical assistance, legal transport, engineering expertise, chaplain and counseling services, direct distributions of supplies, military funeral honors to our veterans, and more; and
Whereas, working under the Guard's motto, "Trained and Ready," the State Guard's commanding general is Brigadier General Leon Lott, and its deputy commander is Brigadier General Michael Langston. State Guard headquarters is in the historic Olympia Armory in Columbia, where on September 26, 2020, the Guard will host a formal 350th anniversary ceremony; and
Whereas, the House is pleased to raise its collective voice of praise in a salute to the Guard, not only for its rich history but also for the volunteer men and women who have made that illustrious history and who will continue to shape its proud future. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate the members of the South Carolina State Guard, all volunteers who share a passion for service and a strong commitment to their fellow South Carolinians, on the occasion of the Guard's three hundred fiftieth anniversary and express grateful thanks for the service and sacrifice of these dedicated servicemen and women.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the South Carolina State Guard.
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