[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          SPIRIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA LAUNCHES HOPE FOR STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, March 4, 2007, 
an important event will take place in Charleston, SC. The South 
Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation will be launching its tall ship, 
the Spirit of South Carolina.
  The Spirit of South Carolina a few years ago was nothing more than a 
footnote in the South Carolina history books. ``The residents of 
Charleston and South Carolina are reconnecting with a bygone era, and 
in so doing, they intend to address crucial issues in education. In a 
city known for historic preservation, this initiative isn't about 
buildings; this time it involves a ship--the Spirit of South Carolina. 
When the newly built, 140-foot traditional sailing vessel finally 
splashes down on Sunday, March 4, it will offer a unique portal into 
the region's history, but it will also present a window of opportunity 
for tackling some vexing problems facing the State's school systems.
  Almost 6 years in the making, this elegant, robust vessel--envisioned 
originally as a means of rekindling interest in the region's rich 
maritime heritage--will become the first genuine wooden sailing ship to 
be built here in more than 100 years. Where once there were hundreds of 
such ships, and many shipyards, now there is just one to call this 
region home, but it's a ship worth the wait.
  The 150-ton Spirit of South Carolina has been designed and built 
along the lines of the traditional pilot schooners that served as a 
vital component of the region's busy mercantile scene in the 18th and 
19th centuries. Like its forerunners, this ship has been built with 
traditional methods, including lumber grown in South Carolina, and this 
ship will also have a crucial function--serving to deepen and enhance 
the education of young students from around the State.
  The Spirit of South Carolina will serve as an ambassador for our 
community and for the State of South Carolina. She is a beautiful, 
fast, world-class schooner, which will represent the history and 
culture of the Palmetto State in port cities around the world. Wherever 
she sails, the Spirit of South Carolina and her crew will serve as 
South Carolina's goodwill ambassadors.
  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of folks like Chairman John 
``Hank'' Hofford, Mayor Joe Riley, Pierre Manigault, R.E. ``Teddy'' 
Turner, Jr., Brad and Meaghan Van Liew, Captain Anthony Arrow and many 
more, the Spirit of South Carolina is now a reality.

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