H 4144 General Bill, By Brannon, Herbkersman, Pinson, Williams, Forrester, 
Parker, Allison, Patrick, Cole and Tallon
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 57-3-665 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL DISPLAY
 PERMANENTLY ON THE GROUNDS OF THE STATE'S WELCOME CENTERS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
 OF POW/MIA FAMILIES' POW/MIA FLAG AND A MEMORIAL PLAQUE THAT HONORS MILITARY
 PERSONNEL THAT ARE PRISONERS OF WAR OR MISSING IN ACTION.

   04/27/11  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 81)
   04/27/11  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 81)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-3-665 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL DISPLAY PERMANENTLY ON THE GROUNDS OF THE STATE'S WELCOME CENTERS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POW/MIA FAMILIES' POW/MIA FLAG AND A MEMORIAL PLAQUE THAT HONORS MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT ARE PRISONERS OF WAR OR MISSING IN ACTION.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 57 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-3-665.    (A)    The Department of Transportation shall display permanently on the existing flag pole on the grounds of each of the State's welcome centers the National League of POW/MIA Families' POW/MIA Flag.

(B)    The department shall place on the grounds of each state welcome center a memorial plaque that recognizes and reminds the public of our national commitment to America's military personnel who are Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. The following language shall appear on the plaque:

Freedom is not free.

It is paid for by those men and women who serve in uniform. To those men and women who sacrifice for all, we thank them.

To the families of our service men and women who still suffer the uncertainty of their loved ones, we remember you.

To all those who suffered captivity and those whose fate remains unknown, we honor you.

The citizens of South Carolina will forever remain vigilant to your plight.

'You are not forgotten.'"

SECTION    2.    The Department of Transportation shall obtain the flags contained in Section 1 from Rolling Thunder, Inc., for one year after the effective date of this act.

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