Resources
News
AFTER THREE MONTHS OF VERY HARD WORK, Eileen Easler and I are so excited to tell you we launched the new SC250 version of or website...
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Carolina Day Press Release 2025
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Don't wait until Independence Day to celebrate! Go ahead and feel your state's pride when our patriots 249 years ago defeated a British fleet in Charleston harbor.
On June 28, 1776, a heavily outnumbered and outgunned band of determined heroes on Sullivan's Island repulsed a powerful British invasion force to score the American's first major victory in the Revolutionary War.
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The hastily built fortification on the south end of Sullivan's Island was constructed with Palmetto logs and sand which repelled most of the cannonballs fired from King George's heavily armed ships in Charleston harbor.
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Sgt William Jasper inspired his fellow patriots when he recovered the South Carolina flag after it had been shot from its staff and, in the face of deadly fire, attached it to a cannon's sponge staff and remounted it upon the walls of the fort.
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It was from this battle 85 years later when our present state flag was designed incorporating the Palmetto tree and crescent on a field of Indigo blue.
On June 28, Georgetown will celebrate Carolina Day beginning at 10:30am at Francis Marion Park followed by a walk down the Harborwalk to Rainey Park to view the Charters of Freedom display.
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Participants are asked to dress in patriotic clothing and bring a state flag. The celebration is sponsored by the SC250 Georgetown County Committee, the Carolina Gold and Winyah Chapters of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution and the Thomas Lynch Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
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Area church bells along with Georgetown’s town clock will gong at 12 noon to celebrate and mark the time.
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The Georgetown 250th Commission also asks that all citizens fly their Palmetto State flags.
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For more information, please contact Corinne Hoch at 201 452 0270, Ken Baeszler at 704 617 5045 or Paige Sawyer at 843 546 3745.
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Hi Lowcountry Friends! we wanted to share the "hot off the press" mobile-friendly, interactive version of the SC250 Lowcountry brochure.
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https://simplebooklet.com/sc250lowcountrymobile
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As we move forward to the big celebration next year we are building excitement through promoting our unique history. Please feel free to view some of these stories through the links provided below:
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Christy Pleasant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV5XGkxvbaw&t=7s
Christy’s studio interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLv7BaF1TOo
Shanda Philips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShlhImCIUc
Eleanor Cooper Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfq9y_Yik7g
America 250’s Rosie Rios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN70UoMaZEg
Chris Volf’s Berkeley 250: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFpsdfZdsHw&t=49s
Bill Segars – Historical Markers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YkccYD2pDg&t=2s
Katherine/Rob from SC250 Charleston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLCTGaF4IUM&t=28s
Katherine/Brett from 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08mIWqUt-1U
Ed West from Dorchester 250: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggHVoDG0xWI&t=36s
Historyman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT2-Zppt_G0
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Education
The EDUCATION COMMITTEE has these major goals: To educate Berkeley
County residents, South Carolinians and the world about (1) Berkeley County's
role in the American Revolution and (2) unique Revolutionary asset and to
promote heritage tourism to Berkeley County.
This year’s priority is to collaborate with Berkeley K-12 students to create
meaningful educational Revolutionary programming for students.
Through collaborative and free-standing events, the Education Committee works
with the Events Committee to plan and provide diverse inspiring and engaging
Revolutionary Era programming throughout Berkeley County. Events are held
at least monthly to engage and educate thousands of Berkeley County families
and tourists throughout the year and promote heritage tourism.
Grants
The GRANT & FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE exists to provide resources and
information about funding opportunities for Revolutionary Era-related tourism
projects, vet and support applications for SC250 Commission and other grant
funds, and provide ongoing funding for the B250 projects and activities.
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The Berkeley 250 Francis Marion Commission through its partners has received
four important SC250 Commission grant awards over the last years. Grant funds
are being used to protect and preserve Berkeley County’s Rev Era assets, educate
the public about them, and promote heritage tourism through them.
To date the Berkeley 250 Francis Marion Commission and its partners have
brought almost a quarter of a million ($240K) to Berkeley County for:
(1) expanding the Berkeley County Museum’s Revolutionary Era exhibits and
increasing educational capacity via cutting-edge interactive digital technology
($50K),
(2) a research grant for the finding stories of lesser-known enslaved people
participating in the Revolutionary War ($10K),
(3) preserving and restoring the Laurens’s Revolutionary Era gravesite at
Mepkin Abbey ($76K), and
(4) Phase 1 stabilization of Biggin Church Ruins ($104K). Chelsy Proper, Judie
Edwards and Shanda Phillips of the Berkeley County Museum; Researcher
Eleanor Brown; Father Joe Tedesco and David George of Mepkin Abbey; and
Mark and Robert Ball of St. Johns Parish Berkeley all contributed time and
information to the Berkeley 250 Francis Marion Commission Grant/Funding
Committee to make these grant awards possible.
Publications