The Flag of the State of South Carolina

The Flag of the State of South Carolina is believed to have been originally designed in 1775 for use by South Carolinian troops during the American Revolutionary War. The blue of the flag was borrowed from the militia's uniforms and the crescent from the emblem on their caps. However, elements that compose the current flag were seen in as far back as 1765, in a banner used by South Carolina protesters of the Stamp Act. South Carolina's flag was ranked as the 10th best designed state or provincial flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001.^[1]

The current version was adopted on January 28, 1861, as the "national" flag of the newly seceded Republic of South Carolina. The only change was the addition of the palmetto tree, which represents the defense of Fort Moultrie (constructed of palmetto logs) on Sullivan's Island from British attack in June 28, 1776. The Palmetto tree is not a typical tree as it does not have rings. As a result, the cannonballs that were fired on Fort Moultrie did not break through the fort but stayed embedded in the walls.

The exact original symbolism of the crescent on the South Carolina flag is not entirely clear. According to one hypothesis, the crescent worn on the caps of the South Carolina revolutionary soldiers was a stylized criniere or gorget. Thus, perhaps both symbols on the state flag are emblems of defensive prowess. However, although it is known that soldiers in Charleston and in South Carolina in general wore the crescent, some historians posit that this is not a stylized gorget (which is worn over the chest), but rather it was an already established emblem of the City of Charleston and the colony of South Carolina — a theory supported by the fact that ten years before the Revolution, a blue flag with three white crescents was already in use by Charlestonian troops^{[citation needed]}.

The origin of the crescent as a symbol for Charleston and for South Carolina is not known for certain. One hypothesis is that it stems from the crescent as the heraldic symbol of a second son. It is true that many of the early colonists would have been second (and third, etc.) sons who had no inheritance in England, and whose coats of arms would have therefore borne crescents; thus, perhaps the crescent was adopted as a symbol for the colony. An alternative hypothesis is that the crescent may be derived from the crescents on the coat-of-arms of the Bull family, which was prominent in the early days of the colony and even produced one of Charleston's more illustrious Royal Governors.^[2]

[edit] Commercial use

Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, and other accessories featuring the flag's Palmetto tree and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other southeastern states as a symbol of the state's long-standing heritage. It is also customary for alumni and supporters of the state's main universities (the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and The Citadel) to display the state flag in their school colors.

The South Carolina State Flag

Dating back to 1765, the South Carolina State Flag reminds us of its role in the American Revolution and maintains its place in the annals of the Civil War with a design that was formulated as a National banner when the state seceded from the union on December 20, 1860.

Components of the current state flag were first seen in 1765, on a banner carried by South Carolina protesters of the Stamp Act. The banner that the protesters hoisted displayed three white crescents on a blue background. Ten years later in 1775, Colonel William Moultrie was asked by the South Carolina Revolutionary Council of Safety to design a banner for the use of South Carolina troops. Colonel Moultrie chose a simple and direct design that displayed the crescent (new moon)on a blue field. The new flag was the same blue color of the soldier's uniforms and the silver crescent echoed the symbol that the soldiers wore on the front of their caps.

Almost 100 years later, South Carolina seceded from the Union it had fought to create. A new banner was needed to fly above the newly created nation. Many designs were reviewed but the General Assembly settled on one simple change to Moultrie's Revolutionary War design. A Palmetto tree was added and centered on the blue field. The Palmetto, the South Carolina State Tree, had been attributed as instrumental in Colonel Moultrie's defense of Sullivan's Island against an attack by British warships in June, 1776. Cannonballs fired at the fort from the British ships could not destroy the walls of the fort which were built of Palmetto logs. Instead, the cannonballs simply sank into the soft, tough Palmetto wood.

The flag that flies over the state of South Carolina today is of the same design that flew over the independent South Carolina during the Civil War.

South Carolina Flag Law

The following information was excerpted from the South Carolina Code of Laws, Titles 1, 4, 10, and 59.

TITLE 1. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 9. STATE EMBLEMS, PLEDGE TO STATE FLAG, OFFICIAL OBSERVANCES

SECTION 1-1-670. Official pledge to State flag.

The pledge to the flag of South Carolina shall be as follows:

"I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."

TITLE 1. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 10. REMOVAL AND PLACEMENT OF CONFEDERATE FLAG

SECTION 1-10-10. Flags authorized to be flown atop State House dome, in chambers of Senate and House of Representatives and on grounds of Capitol Complex; members' offices as "chambers"; private individual wearing, carrying or displaying flag on capitol grounds.

(A) As of 12:00 noon on the effective date of this act, and permanently thereafter, the only flags authorized to be flown atop the dome of the State House, in the chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives, and on the grounds of the Capitol Complex shall be as authorized in this section.

The flags authorized to be flown atop the dome of the State House and in the chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives are the United States Flag and the South Carolina State Flag. As of 12:00 noon on the effective date of this act, the flag authorized to be flown at a designated location on the grounds of the Capitol Complex is the South Carolina Infantry Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America [the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (General Robert E. Lee's Army) the South Carolina, Georgia, Florida Department version]. This flag must be flown on a flagpole located at a point on the south side of the Confederate Soldier Monument, centered on the monument, ten feet from the base of the monument at a height of thirty feet. The flagpole on which the flag is flown and the area adjacent to the monument and flagpole must be illuminated at night and an appropriate decorative iron fence must be erected around the flagpole.

The South Carolina Infantry Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America is square measuring fifty-two inches on each side, inclusive of the white border, with a St. Andrews Cross of blue, edged with white, with thirteen equal five-pointed stars, upon a red field, with the whole banner bordered in white. The blue arms of the cross are 7.5 inches wide and the white border around the flag proper is 1.5 inches wide. The stars are five-pointed, inscribed within a circle six inches in diameter, and are uniform in size.

From any funds appropriated to the Budget and Control Board, the Division of General Services of the Budget and Control Board, or its successor in interest, shall ensure that the flags authorized above shall be placed at all times as directed in this section and shall replace the flags at appropriate intervals as may be necessary due to wear.

(B) The provisions of this section may only be amended or repealed upon passage of an act which has received a two-thirds vote on the third reading of the bill in each branch of the General Assembly.

(C) The term "chambers" of the House or Senate for the purposes of this section does not include individual members' offices. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a private individual on the capitol complex grounds from wearing as a part of his clothing or carrying or displaying any type of flag including a Confederate Flag.

SECTION 1-10-20. Confederate Flags from above rostrums of Senate and House of Representatives chambers to be placed and displayed in State Museum.

The actual Confederate Flags (Naval Jack) removed from above the rostrum in the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate must be placed and permanently displayed in a suitable location in the State Museum.

SECTION 1-10-30. Confederate Flag from dome to be placed and displayed in State Museum.

The actual Confederate Flag (Naval Jack) which is flying on the effective date of this act and which is removed from the dome of the State House must be placed and permanently displayed in a suitable location in the State Museum.

TITLE 4. COUNTIES
CHAPTER 17. BUILDINGS AND LANDS GENERALLY

SECTION 4-17-40. State flag shall be displayed on courthouse.

The State flag shall be displayed daily, except in rainy weather, from a staff upon every courthouse. The officer in charge of each courthouse shall purchase a suitable flag and cause it to be displayed, the expense to be borne out of the funds provided for maintenance of the courthouse.

TITLE 10. PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 10-1-160. Display of certain flags.

(A) The United States flag and the State flag shall be flown daily, except in rainy weather, from a staff upon the State House, and shall be displayed above the rostrum in the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate and in the first floor north foyer of the State House. No other flag shall be displayed in these locations or atop the dome or roof, or within the foyers or common or public areas within the capitol building. The State Budget and Control Board shall purchase suitable flags for display at the State House locations and cause them to be displayed, the expense to be borne out of the funds appropriated to it.

(B) The provisions of this section may only be amended or repealed upon passage of an act which has received a two-thirds vote on the third reading of the bill in each branch of the General Assembly.

(C) The term "chambers" of the House or Senate for purposes of this section does not include individual members' offices. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a private individual on the capitol complex grounds from wearing as a part of his clothing or carrying or displaying any type of flag including a Confederate Flag.

TITLE 59. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 101. COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING GENERALLY
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 59-101-100. Display of United States and State flags.

The State Superintendent of Education shall make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the National Flag Code, for the display of the flag of the United States of America and the display of the State flag on the grounds of educational institutions supported, in whole or in part, by funds derived from this State. The person at the head of any educational institution in the State shall display the flag of the United States of America and the State flag on the grounds of educational institutions supported, in whole or in part, by funds derived from this State. The person at the head of any educational institution in the State shall display the flag of the United States of America and the State flag at such times and at such places and under such restrictions and rules as he may be directed to observe by the State Superintendent of Education.

SECTION 59-101-110. Display of State flag on buildings of State University and State colleges.

The State flag shall be displayed daily, except in rainy weather, from a staff upon one building of the University of South Carolina and of each State college. The officer or officers in charge of such buildings shall purchase suitable flags and cause them to be displayed, the expense to be borne out of the funds provided for maintenance.

Source: The South Carolina Legislature, South Carolina Code of Laws, (http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/statmast.htm), November 2, 2007.
Source: Flags of the Fifty States and Their Incredible Histories: The Complete Guide to America's Most Powerful Symbols by Randy Howe. The Lyons Press; First edition edition (November 1, 2002).
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded by Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer. Greenwood Press; 3 Sub edition (October 30, 2001).
Source: State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols by George Earlie Shankle. Reprint Services Corp; Revised edition (June 1971).