S*0498(Rat #0030, Act #0018 of 2007)  General Bill, By Mescher, Grooms and 
Campsen
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 53-3-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR
 IS DESIGNATED AS "GENERAL FRANCIS MARION MEMORIAL DAY" IN HONOR OF THIS SOUTH
 CAROLINA REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO. - ratified title

   02/28/07  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   02/28/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-13
   03/07/07  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Malloy,
                     Campsen, Williams
   03/28/07  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-29
   03/29/07  Senate Read second time SJ-13
   04/03/07  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-21
   04/10/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-22
   04/10/07  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-22
   04/11/07  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-7
   04/12/07  House  Read second time HJ-16
   04/17/07  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-28
   04/26/07         Ratified R 30
   05/02/07         Signed By Governor
   05/09/07         Copies available
   05/09/07         Effective date 05/02/07
   05/22/07         Act No. 18

(A18, R30, S498)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR IS DESIGNATED AS "GENERAL FRANCIS MARION MEMORIAL DAY" IN HONOR OF THIS SOUTH CAROLINA REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Findings

SECTION    1.    The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1)    Francis Marion was an American Revolutionary War hero, nicknamed "the Swamp Fox" by the British because of his elusive tactics. Marion was probably born in St. John's Parish, Berkeley County, near Georgetown, South Carolina, about 1732.

(2)    In August 1780, he commanded guerrilla warfare against the Loyalists along the Pee Dee and Santee Rivers. Marion chased away three Loyalist groups. Turning upon the British, Marion cut their supply lines, outran Sir Banister Tarleton's dragoons, raided Georgetown, retired to Snow's Island, and then again raided Georgetown.

(3)    After the Continentals returned to South Carolina, he served as brigadier general of the militia under General Nathaniel Greene. Aided by Continental troops, Marion finally seized Georgetown. At the battle of Eutaw Springs on September 8, 1781, he commanded the militias of North and South Carolina and drove the British back to Charleston.

(4)    While still leader of his brigade, Marion was elected to the Senate of South Carolina in 1781. He was re-elected in 1782 and again in 1784, after the war had ended.

(5)    Brigadier General Francis Marion died February 27, 1795, in his sixty-third year. His tomb is located at Belle Isle Plantation in St. Stephens.

General Francis Marion Memorial Day

SECTION    2.    Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 53-3-35.    The twenty-seventh day of February of each year is designated as 'General Francis Marion Memorial Day' in honor of this South Carolina Revolutionary War hero."

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 26th day of April, 2007.

Approved the 2nd day of May, 2007.