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.