Lasting Impact

Mary's relentless commitment to education changed lives and advanced civil rights. Today, her marble statue stands in the United States Capitol, the first African American to be thus honored. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune teaches us that determination can overcome obstacles and create a brighter future for all.

Revolutionary Leadership

After the battles of Lexington and Concord, Francis Marion became a militia captain. He fought at Fort Sullivan (1776) and in Savannah. A broken foot kept him from Charleston's capture in 1780, allowing him to lead raids in the backcountry. Using guerrilla tactics, he rescued prisoners and disrupted British operations, earning the nickname "Swamp Fox." In 2000, the movie The Patriot even told the story of this SC Patriot on the big screen!

A Legacy in Action

Amid the battle, a British cannonball struck the fort's flagpole, knocking the regimental flag to the ground. Without hesitation, Sergeant Jasper leapt over the wall, retrieved the flag, and replanted it on the fort wall, risking his life to keep the spirit of the fight alive. He is reported to have said, "Colonel, don't let us fight without our flag!"

Lasting Impact

The Patriots' victory at Fort Moultrie and Sergeant Jasper's legendary bravery lives on today in our iconic state flag. First featured on that tattered regimental "Liberty" flag and the hats of the soldiers who fought under it, the crescent continues to wave proudly alongside the strong and resilient Palmetto tree wherever South Carolina's flag flies. Each June 28, we celebrate Carolina Day to honor South Carolina's landmark role in America's fight for independence.

Legacy of Care and Courage

In the early 1920s, Maude moved to rural South Carolina as an Episcopal missionary nurse-midwife in Berkeley County. She delivered up to 800 babies, often alone after traveling through dark, swampy backroads. Her lantern, weaving through the darkness, earned her the nickname “Angel in Twilight.” She also trained other midwives, taught literacy, organized clothing drives, and transported the sick to hospitals. She summed up her calling: “Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”

Accomplishments

In the 1950s, Life magazine spotlighted Nurse Maude’s service, helping fund a Pineville clinic. She worked tirelessly until retirement and later delivered meals to seniors. When invited to the White House by President Reagan, she reportedly said, “You can’t just call me up and ask me to be somewhere. I’ve got to do my job.” Her dedication to Pineville and its people never wavered.

Preserving a Legacy

Years later, Ann’s mother visited Mount Vernon—George Washington’s historic home —and was heartbroken by its crumbling condition. When she shared what she saw, Ann felt a deep sense of responsibility. She believed that the home of the nation’s first president should be preserved for all Americans. Ann launched a national campaign to save Mount Vernon, rallying women across the country to join her cause. She founded the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the first national historic preservation organization in the United States.

Accomplishments

Through tireless fundraising and organizing, Ann and the women of the Association raised enough money to purchase and restore Mount Vernon. Their work not only saved the estate from ruin but also set a powerful example of civic responsibility and leadership— especially for women, who had few public roles at the time.

Life's Work

McNair worked on amazing science projects! He helped make powerful lasers, studied energy, and even explored the science behind karate moves, in addition to becoming an astronaut. He loved discovering new things and sharing knowledge.

Accomplishments

In 1978, Ronald McNair was chosen from 10,000 applicants as one of 35 for NASA’s astronaut program, becoming the second African American astronaut. His first spaceflight was in 1984 on the Space Shuttle Challenger, where he helped operate the robotic arm for the first untethered spacewalk in history.

Accomplishments

The Briggs family was the first to sign a petition demanding equal access to school transportation. Their bravery sparked a lawsuit-Briggs v. Eliott-challenging school segregation. Despite threats, job loss, and a community pressure, the families involved stayed strong in their fight for justice, leading the way for the entire nation.

Lasting Impact

Briggs v. Elliott became one of five legal cases combined into the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. In 1954, the Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. The courage of the Briggs family and their community helped change the course of American history and marked a major victory in the fight for equal education and opportunity for every student.

Key Moment

On June 28, 1776, as British forces moved to capture Charleston, American commanders debated abandoning the unfinished fort on Sullivan's Island. John Ruthledge refused to yield. Overruling the call to retreat, he ordered the fort held-setting the stage for a 10-hour battle that ended in a decisive American victory. It is still commemorated as Carolina Day each year on June 28.

Lasting Impact

Though less well known than other Founding Fathers, Rutledge was pivotal in birthing and shaping our young nation. As South Carolina's decisive wartime governor during the Revolution and a key architect of the U.S. Constitution-which he helped draft and signed-Rutledge placed himself and our state at the forefront of securing American independence. 

Where Mettle Meets Medal

Created in the crucible of the Civil War, the Medal of Honor is presented by the President in the name of Congress to those who display unmistakable courage in the face of mortal danger. Since 1861-1862, more than 3,500 members of the U.S. Armed Forces have earned this distinction-each one bearing the weight of our nation's gratitude. Among them stand 33 South Carolinians whose valor shows that every Medal of Honor recipient was ready to give their life-some lived, others did not-but all were willing. That is why freedom endures.

Salute to South Carolina Heroes

The first South Carolinian to receive the Medal of Honor was Robert Blake (Navy) of Port Royal, an enslaved man who earned the medal in 1864 for his heroic actions during the Civil War. Eight South Carolinians received the medal during World War I, including Corporal Freddie Stowers (Army)—the only African American Medal of Honor recipient so honored during that conflict. Five South Carolinians received the medal during World War II, and four more during the Korean War. Seven were honored for heroic actions in Vietnam.

The most recent South Carolinian to receive the Medal of Honor was Sergeant First Class Christopher A. Celiz (Army), who was posthumously awarded in 2021 for his selfless actions during the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan. Remarkably, another hero from the same conflict is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient: Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter (Marine). Although born in Mississippi, Carpenter spent much of his youth in South Carolina and graduated from W.W. King Academy in Batesburg—linking his story closely to our Palmetto State. The same is true for Major General James E. Livingston (Marine), who, though born in Georgia, proudly calls Charleston home.

Accomplishments

Major Capers was the first African American Marine to receive a battlefield commission and later the first to command a Marine Force Reconnaissance company. During his career, he completed 64 dangerous patrols behind enemy lines, leading from the front. His service earned many awards, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with Valor, and three Purple Hearts. His image was featured in a national Marine Corps recruiting campaign, and many of the reconnaissance tactics he pioneered still influence U.S. military operations today.