INTRODUCED

March 4, 2003

S.443

Introduced by Senators Leatherman, Giese, Mescher, Grooms, Branton, Hayes, Kuhn, J.Verne Smith, Courson, Ryberg, Drummond and Knotts

S. Printed 3/4/03--S.

Read the first time March 4, 2003.

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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

EXPRESS THE SINCERE GRATITUDE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA WHO ARE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND TO ENCOURAGE THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS TO RECORD THEIR LEGACIES OF SERVICE BY PARTICIPATING IN THE “WRITE FROM THE FRONT PROGRAM” SPONSORED BY THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD’S SOUTH CAROLINA CONFEDERATE RELIC ROOM AND MUSEUM.

Whereas, South Carolinians have served this country since 1776, when Sergeant William Jasper rescued the state flag from atop Fort Moultrie, to 1990, when South Carolina Air National Guard F16A jets flew the first U.S. combat sorties over Iraq during Desert Storm; and

Whereas, thousands of this state’s citizens have, most recently, left behind their families and communities to courageously defend this country, once again, in the Persian Gulf; and

Whereas, the mission of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum is to record the history of every military conflict in which South Carolinians defend the ideals on which this nation was founded; and

Whereas, the most precious resource for both historians and future generations are the thoughts, recollections, and experiences of our service men and women and their families as they live through them; and

Whereas, the museum has launched the “Write From the Front Program,” asking South Carolina soldiers to share letters or electronic communications describing their daily lives during the conflict with Iraq; and

Whereas, the museum also invites the loving families of the service members to participate in this program by sharing their experiences documented by personal letters or essays, which reflect the range of emotions felt by having a loved one stationed so far away from home; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are tremendously proud of the strength and patriotism that service members from this State have demonstrated in being committed to ensuring the safety and liberty of all United States citizens. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, wish to express their sincere gratitude to the thousands of men and women from South Carolina who are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States in the Persian Gulf and to encourage those brave soldiers to record their legacies of service by participating in the “Write From the Front Program” sponsored by the State Budget and Control Board’s South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum.

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