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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD 350TH ANNIVERSARY
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, congratulations to the
members of the South Carolina State Guard on their 350th Anniversary.
The South Carolina military has a long and storied history since it
was first organized as a Militia at Charles Town on Albermarle Point on
the Ashley River 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.
During the American Revolution, South Carolina Militia units were
formed into three brigades under General Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox)
in the Lowcountry, General Thomas Sumter (the Fighting Gamecock) in the
Midlands, and General Andrew Pickens in the Piedmont. They fought
scores of engagements against the British during the American
Revolutionary War. There were more skirmishes in the Province of South
Carolina than any other Province during the Revolution, as its citizens
were dedicated to Independence. The Militia also volunteered to defend
the state in the War of 1812 and again in 1846 in the Mexican War.
During the period from 1917 to 1920 the South Carolina Militia was
activated to replace the SC National Guard units serving in France. On
March 21, 1941, Governor Burnet Maybank of Charleston signed a law
establishing the ``South Carolina Defense Force''.
Now called the South Carolina State Guard, the still all-volunteer
organization 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 quickly respond 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.
When the State Guard was needed to respond to hurricanes Joaquin,
Harvey, Matthew, and Florence, its personnel were there to answer the
call. In 2018 alone, the nearly 1,000 members of the State Guard
volunteered more than 90,000 hours protecting the lives and property of
south Carolinians alongside federal, state, and local first responders.
State Guard members engage in activities such as Search and Rescue
Operations, Medical assistance, legal transport, traffic and parking
guidance, engineering expertise, chaplain and counseling services,
direct distributions of supplies, and conducting military funeral
honors to our veterans.
The State Guard's Commanding General is Brigadier General Leon Lott
and its Deputy Commander is Brigadier General Michael Langston. The
State Guard headquarters is in the historic Olympia Armory in Columbia.
The State Guard's motto is ``Trained and Ready''.
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