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Bill 1048

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1048
Ratification Number:              374
Act Number:                       342
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000119
Primary Sponsor:                  Moore
All Sponsors:                     Moore
Drafted Document Number:          l:\s-res\tlm\002purp.whb.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000526
Governor's Action:                S
Date of Governor's Action:        20000606
Subject:                          Purple Heart Day, third Saturday in 
                                  February; Veterans' and Military Affairs, 
                                  honor recipients of; Holidays


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
------  20000628  Act No. A342
------  20000606  Signed by Governor
------  20000531  Ratified R374
House   20000526  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
House   20000525  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   20000524  Committee report: Favorable            25 HJ
House   20000208  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee
Senate  20000204  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  20000203  Read second time, unanimous
                  consent for third reading on 
                  Friday, 20000204
------  20000203  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000202  Committee report: Favorable            11 SJ
Senate  20000119  Introduced, read first time,           11 SJ
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on February 2, 2000 - Word format
Revised on February 3, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 24, 2000 - Word format

(A342, R374, S1048)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 53, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-120, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE THIRD SATURDAY IN FEBRUARY EACH YEAR AS PURPLE HEART DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART FOR MILITARY MERIT AND THE EXCEPTIONAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS DECORATION.

Whereas, the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly called "The Purple Heart", is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier; and

Whereas, General Washington conceived of and authorized this eloquent and forceful symbol of citizen responsibility in his General Orders of August 7, 1782, after being deprived by the Continental Congress of his usual means of reward for soldiers serving in the Revolutionary War; and

Whereas, the United States War Department revived the Purple Heart decoration on February 22, 1932, which has since been awarded to more than 800,000 men and women from all walks of life, religions, creeds, and ethnicity; and

Whereas, the Purple Heart, definitely a combat decoration, is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the United States Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded; and

Whereas, the "Military Order for the Purple Heart", the only strictly combat organization in existence, was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration and is composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients; and

Whereas, the Purple Heart was created to "cherish virtuous ambition in soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit," and to honor "not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service". Now, therefore,

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

Purple Heart Day

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 53-3-120. The third Saturday in February each year is designated as Purple Heart Day in South Carolina to honor the decoration itself and those men and women who have received it."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 31st day of May, 2000.

Approved the 6th day of June, 2000.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:09 A.M.