H*4576 Concurrent Resolution, By Cobb-Hunter
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPREME
 SACRIFICE MADE ON FEBRUARY 8, 1968, BY THREE YOUNG STUDENTS, SAMUEL HAMMOND,
 JR., AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE FRESHMAN FROM FT.
 LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, DELANO B. MIDDLETON, A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT
 WILKINSON HIGH SCHOOL IN ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND HENRY EZEKIAL SMITH,
 AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE, FROM MARION,
 SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COURAGEOUS EFFORTS BY DECLARING
 FEBRUARY 8 AS SMITH-HAMMOND-MIDDLETON MEMORIAL DAY.

   02/04/98  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-11
   02/05/98  Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence SJ-15

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE ON FEBRUARY 8, 1968, BY THREE YOUNG STUDENTS, SAMUEL HAMMOND, JR., AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE FRESHMAN FROM FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, DELANO HERMAN MIDDLETON, A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT WILKINSON HIGH SCHOOL IN ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND HENRY EZEKIAL SMITH, AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE, FROM MULLINS, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COURAGEOUS EFFORTS BY DECLARING FEBRUARY 8 AS SMITH-HAMMOND-MIDDLETON MEMORIAL DAY.

Whereas, Samuel Hammond, Jr., Delano Herman Middleton, and Henry Ezekial Smith, believing in America and its fundamental fairness, joined other young people thirty years ago in peaceful demonstrations protesting the prohibition of their entrance to and use of a local bowling alley because of their race; and

Whereas, during their participation in the protest, they were shot and killed, and twenty-seven other men and women were wounded; and

Whereas, those of us in responsible roles of leadership today wish to express to their families, friends, the citizens of this State, and all Americans our sincere sorrow at their deaths and profound gratitude for their courageous efforts; and

Whereas, we sincerely believe that we all must learn to love and appreciate each other as children of the same Maker and members of one race, the human race; and

Whereas, we want to recognize finally these courageous young people for their efforts and sacrifice; and

Whereas, we believe it is fitting and appropriate that this State honor their sacrifice by declaring February 8 an annual honorary day in their memory; and

Whereas, we believe it would be the ultimate honor and a fitting tribute to the thirtieth anniversary of their deaths and to their memories if South Carolina's Governor David Beasley were to issue to them posthumously the Order of the Palmetto for presentation to and display at South Carolina State College. Now, therefore,

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

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina recognizes and expresses its profound gratitude for the supreme sacrifice made on February 8, 1968, by three young students, Samuel Hammond, Jr., an eighteen-year-old South Carolina State College freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Delano Herman Middleton, a seventeen-year-old student at Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Henry Ezekial Smith, an eighteen-year-old sophomore at South Carolina State College, from Mullins, South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that this General Assembly declares February 8 as an annual honorary day in memory of Samuel Hammond, Jr., Delano Herman Middleton, and Henry Ezekial Smith.

Be it further resolved that we pray the Governor of our great State immediately issue posthumously to those three brave young men The Order of The Palmetto, and pray also that these awards be presented to South Carolina State University on February 8, 1998, and that South Carolina State University display them in positions of honor and prominence in its Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.