South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Bill 1322

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POLLED OUT OF COMMITTEE

MAJORITY FAVORABLE

April 28, 2010

S. 1322

Introduced by Senators O'Dell, Verdin and Rose

S. Printed 4/28/10--S.

Read the first time March 25, 2010.

            

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 1322) to admonish the Attorney General of South Carolina to determine and carry out the most expeditious strategy to assure that "Big Red," the Citadel battle flag, shall remain , etc., respectfully

REPORT:

Has polled the Concurrent Resolution out majority favorable.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO ADMONISH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO DETERMINE AND CARRY OUT THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS STRATEGY TO ASSURE THAT "BIG RED," THE CITADEL BATTLE FLAG, SHALL REMAIN IN SOUTH CAROLINA PERMANENTLY AS AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL ASSET OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina is a respected and historical component of higher education in this State and its history is closely woven into the history of this State and the United States of America; and

Whereas, an important artifact of the college, the Cadet battle flag, or "Big Red", was recently recovered from obscurity in another state and subsequently made available to The Citadel and the people of South Carolina on a loan basis; and

Whereas, "Big Red", the Civil War-era red palmetto flag, completed its 150-year and 1,203-mile journey home to The Citadel on Friday, March 4, 2010, and is believed to be the one that flew over Morris Island when Citadel cadets fired upon the supply ship The Star of the West; and

Whereas, discovered in storage in an Iowa museum, the "Big Red" flag is on loan for four years from the State Historical Society of Iowa. "Big Red" returns in time for the 150th anniversary of the firing on The Star of the West next year; and

Whereas, "Big Red" has been in storage for years and its travels are mostly unknown because it disappeared from the historical record after 1861. After extensive research and textile analysis, many flag experts and historians are confident it is the same flag cadets flew over Morris Island on January 9, 1861; and

Whereas, "Big Red" has become a symbol of pride for The Citadel. A replica with a white palmetto tree and outward facing crescent was adopted as a spirit flag for the Corps of Cadets in 1992. Its design was the same as the South Carolina state flag, but on a red field, rather than blue. The original flag, however, has an inward facing crescent. In 2009, the college's Board of Visitors adopted the original flag design as the official spirit flag; and

Whereas, "Big Red" is in exceptional condition for its age. It is a machine- and hand-stitched flag and is made of wool and cotton. The flag measures a little more than 7 feet high and 10 1/4 feet wide, and it is encased in a wood frame behind UV glass; and

Whereas, "Big Red" officially joined the Corps of Cadets and was placed on public view on March 19, 2010, at The Citadel, marking the South Carolina Corps of Cadets' 167th birthday. Now, therefore,

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

That "Big Red" should remain at its rightful home in perpetuity for the enjoyment and education of South Carolinians.

Be it further resolved that the South Carolina General Assembly admonishes the Attorney General of South Carolina to determine and carry out the most expeditious strategy to assure that "Big Red" shall remain in South Carolina permanently as an important historical asset of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to The Citadel.

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