[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD 350TH ANNIVERSARY

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2020

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, congratulations to the 
members of the South Carolina State Guard on their 350th Anniversary.
  The South Carolina military has a long and storied history since it 
was first organized as a Militia at Charles Town on Albermarle Point on 
the Ashley River in 1670. This Militia was the earliest manifestation 
of the South Carolina State Guard.
  In the early days of the Province of Carolina, the Militia repulsed 
French and Spanish invasions, attacked St. Augustine in 1706 and won 
the Yemassee Indian War in 1715. The Militia invaded Spanish Florida 
once more in 1749 and repulsed frontier Indian attacks from 1716 to 
1761, including the Cherokee Indian Wars.
  During the American Revolution, South Carolina Militia units were 
formed into three brigades under General Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox) 
in the Lowcountry, General Thomas Sumter (the Fighting Gamecock) in the 
Midlands, and General Andrew Pickens in the Piedmont. They fought 
scores of engagements against the British during the American 
Revolutionary War. There were more skirmishes in the Province of South 
Carolina than any other Province during the Revolution, as its citizens 
were dedicated to Independence. The Militia also volunteered to defend 
the state in the War of 1812 and again in 1846 in the Mexican War.
  During the period from 1917 to 1920 the South Carolina Militia was 
activated to replace the SC National Guard units serving in France. On 
March 21, 1941, Governor Burnet Maybank of Charleston signed a law 
establishing the ``South Carolina Defense Force''.
  Now called the South Carolina State Guard, the still all-volunteer 
organization consists of highly trained and ready professionals.
  When serious natural or man-made disasters strike our state, the 
mission of the State Guard is to quickly respond to protect people and 
property and to help communities recover. Acting in coordination with 
the National Guard, law enforcement, and other state, county, and 
municipal agencies during time of emergency, the State Guard is part of 
the South Carolina Military Department under the direction of the 
Adjutant General. Its Commander in Chief is the Governor.
  When the State Guard was needed to respond to hurricanes Joaquin, 
Harvey, Matthew, and Florence, its personnel were there to answer the 
call. In 2018 alone, the nearly 1,000 members of the State Guard 
volunteered more than 90,000 hours protecting the lives and property of 
south Carolinians alongside federal, state, and local first responders.
  State Guard members engage in activities such as Search and Rescue 
Operations, Medical assistance, legal transport, traffic and parking 
guidance, engineering expertise, chaplain and counseling services, 
direct distributions of supplies, and conducting military funeral 
honors to our veterans.
  The State Guard's Commanding General is Brigadier General Leon Lott 
and its Deputy Commander is Brigadier General Michael Langston. The 
State Guard headquarters is in the historic Olympia Armory in Columbia. 
The State Guard's motto is ``Trained and Ready''.

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