CHAPTER 3 - SPECIAL DAYS
Title 53 - Sundays, Holidays and Other Special Days
CHAPTER 3.
SPECIAL DAYS
SECTION 53-3-10. Arbor Day.
The first Friday of December of each year is set apart as Arbor Day and as a part of the observance of Arbor Day the officials, teachers, supervisors, principals and superintendents of the public schools are directed to observe the first Friday in December in each year as South Carolina Arbor Day with appropriate ceremonies, including the planting of trees on school property, and all civic, patriotic and fraternal organizations are requested to lend their assistance in the observance of such day in an appropriate manner.
SECTION 53-3-20. Frances Willard Day.
The fourth Friday in October in each year shall be set apart and designated in the public schools as Frances Willard Day and in each public school it shall be the duty of such school to prepare and render a suitable program on the day to the end that the children of the State may be taught the evils of intemperance.
SECTION 53-3-30. General Pulaski's Memorial Day.
The Governor shall issue a proclamation calling upon officials of the government to display the flag of the United States on all governmental buildings on October eleventh of each year and inviting the people of the State to observe the day in schools and churches or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies in commemoration of the death of General Casimir Pulaski.
SECTION 53-3-35. General Francis Marion Memorial Day.
The twenty-seventh day of February of each year is designated as "General Francis Marion Memorial Day" in honor of this South Carolina Revolutionary War hero.
SECTION 53-3-40. Mother's Day.
The Governor is requested to issue annually a proclamation calling upon the State officials to display the United States flag and the flag of this State on all State and school buildings and the people of the State to display the flag at their homes, lodges, churches, places of business and other suitable places on the second Sunday in May, known as Mother's Day, founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a public expression of love and reverence for the homes of the State, especially for their mothers and other patriotic women therein, and the Governor is requested to urge the celebration of Mother's Day in such proclamation in such a way as will deepen home ties and inspire better homes and closer union between the State, its homes and their sons and daughters.
SECTION 53-3-45. Family Respect Day.
The Friday immediately preceding Mother's Day of each year is designated "Family Respect Day" in recognition of the important role the family unit plays in a healthy and productive society.
SECTION 53-3-50. Grandmother's Day.
The second Sunday in October of each year is hereby officially designated "Grandmother's Day" in South Carolina.
SECTION 53-3-60. South Carolina Day.
The public schools shall observe Calhoun's birthday, the eighteenth of March of each year, as South Carolina Day and on that day the school officers and teachers shall conduct such exercises as will conduce to a more general knowledge and appreciation of the history, resources and possibilities of this State. If such day shall fall on Saturday or Sunday the Friday nearest to March eighteenth shall be so observed and if any school shall not be in session on such date, the celebration may be held before the close of the term. The State Superintendent of Education shall suggest such topics or programs as he may deem appropriate for the celebration of South Carolina Day.
SECTION 53-3-70. Loyalty Day.
May first of every year shall be designated as Loyalty Day in this State.
SECTION 53-3-80. Martin Luther King Day.
The third Monday of January of each year, is declared to be Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in South Carolina.
SECTION 53-3-85. Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom Day.
The nineteenth day of June of each year is designated as "Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom Day" to commemorate and reflect on the freedom of African Americans and their contributions to this State and nation.
SECTION 53-3-90. Family Week designated.
The last week in August of each year is declared "Family Week in South Carolina." The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism shall develop a plan to promote the celebration of Family Week. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the promotion of local festivals, pageants, field days, picnics, reunions and similar activities which would encourage participation by families as a unit.
SECTION 53-3-100. Family Week: creation of committee to choose "South Carolina Family of the Year."
A committee is created to choose and honor the "South Carolina Family of the Year" which must be recognized by the presentation of an appropriate award by the Governor on Saturday of "Family Week in South Carolina". The committee is composed of one member appointed by the Governor and one member appointed by the head of each of the following state agencies: the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the Department of Youth Services, the South Carolina Commission on Aging, the Department of Social Services, the Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Department of Agriculture Clemson College Extension Service. The terms of the members are for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. The committee shall meet as soon after the appointment of its members as practicable and organize by electing one of its members as chairman, one as secretary, and such other officers that it may determine. The expenses of the committee must be paid by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism from funds appropriated for this purpose.
SECTION 53-3-105. Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
The twelfth day of May of each year is designated as "Fibromyalgia Awareness Day" in South Carolina to educate employers, physicians, and citizens of South Carolina of the debilitating effects of fibromyalgia.
SECTION 53-3-110. Garden Week designated.
The week beginning the first Sunday of June each year is designated "Garden Week".
SECTION 53-3-120. Purple Heart Day.
The third Saturday in February each year is designated as Purple Heart Day in South Carolina to honor the decoration itself and those men and women who have received it.
SECTION 53-3-130. Golf week designated.
The last week in April in each year is designated as "Golf Week" in South Carolina. The Governor shall issue appropriate proclamations to commemorate "Golf Week" which must be observed throughout South Carolina with appropriate ceremonies and events to recognize the:
(1) economic impact of the golf industry in South Carolina;
(2) importance of the state's junior golfers;
(3) importance of turfgrass research.
SECTION 53-3-140. "Carolina Day" declared.
June twenty-eighth of each year, the anniversary of the Battle of Fort Sullivan in 1776, is declared to be "Carolina Day" in South Carolina.
SECTION 53-3-150. Patriotism Week.
(A) The week which includes the eleventh day of November in each year is designated as "Patriotism Week" in South Carolina. The Governor shall issue appropriate proclamations to commemorate "Patriotism Week" which must be observed throughout South Carolina with appropriate ceremonies and events to:
(1) recognize the important contributions made by our military veterans to American society;
(2) honor the supreme sacrifices made by our veterans in defending the freedoms and protections afforded by the United States Constitution; and
(3) memorialize those men and women who lost their lives in military service.
(B) The State Superintendent of Education shall encourage school districts to:
(1) observe "Patriotism Week" by holding appropriate ceremonies, events, and assemblies on school grounds; and
(2) develop appropriate curricula that focus on the purposes of "Patriotism Week".
(C) Commissioners and directors of state agencies and governing bodies of political subdivisions shall encourage participation by public employees in ceremonies and events during "Patriotism Week".
SECTION 53-3-160. September eleventh.
The eleventh day of September of each year is designated as a State Day of Remembrance for the victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and for the firefighters, law enforcement, National Guard, emergency service personnel, and 911 telecommunicators who risk their lives and contribute every day to ensure the safety of South Carolina's citizens.
SECTION 53-3-165. POW/MIA Recognition Day.
(A) The third Friday in September of each year is declared to be "POW/MIA Recognition Day" in South Carolina. The Governor shall issue a proclamation each year calling upon the people of South Carolina to observe "POW/MIA Recognition Day" with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
(B) Flags atop state and local public buildings must be flown at half-staff at least until noon on "POW/MIA Recognition Day".
(C) The POW/MIA flag shall be flown or displayed on "POW/MIA Recognition Day" in South Carolina on the grounds or in public lobbies if the flags are provided, except for the State Capitol Building and the State House grounds.
(D) As used in this section, the term "POW/MIA flag" means the National League of Families POW/MIA flag recognized officially and designated by Section 2 of Public Law 101-355.
SECTION 53-3-166. Bill of Rights Day.
(A) December fifteenth of each year, the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, is declared to be "Bill of Rights Day" in South Carolina.
(B) All governmental bodies in the State are encouraged to observe the annual Bill of Rights Day in a manner that brings to mind the meaning and importance of each of its ten provisions.
SECTION 53-3-170. South Carolina State Guard Week.
The first week of June of each year is designated as South Carolina State Guard Week."
SECTION 53-3-185. Vietnam Veterans Survivors' and Remembrance Day.
The first Friday in May of each year is declared to be "Vietnam Veterans Survivors' and Remembrance Day" in South Carolina.