By: Derek Legette
Edited By: Sara Leary
A proposal to create a new South Carolina Medal of Valor for service members killed in action or deploying to the battlefield is now headed to the state Senate.
The Senate's General Committee passed the measure Wednesday. Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, the bill's sponsor and the committee chairman, said he knows families who have lost loved ones in the service.
"I think it's appropriate that we recognize those individuals, the sacrifices they've made, and their family members," he said.
Alexander said he hoped the full Senate would quickly consider the bill, which he introduced a little over a week ago. The bill must also pass the House and be signed by Gov. Nikki Haley before any medals can be awarded.
To date, 18 South Carolina soldiers in Afghanistan and 38 in Iraq have been killed in hostile action, according to the Defense Department.
"This is for people with a special connection to South Carolina," said the committee's research director, Joel Deason.
The Medal of Valor would be awarded to military members from South Carolina or who had ties to the state by being stationed here at the time they died. National Guard members as well as those in the full-time military would be eligible.
Several states, such as Hawaii, have created similar medals, said Matt Nichols, legislative liaison for the state Military Department, which includes the Army and Air National Guard.
The bill passed the committee with little debate.
"Anytime you have people who serve the country from your particular state you want to be able to provide them some type of service medal," said Sen. John Scott, D-Richland, a committee member.
Life-size versions of military honors are on display at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Photo courtesy of Patriots Point.
Senate General Committee Chairman Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, who sponsored the Medal of Valor bill, tells a reporter that he hopes the bill will be embraced by the state as it goes to the House.
