South Carolina S 969: Martha Bray Carson

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 969 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 03, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 969

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A senate RESOLUTION

TO recognize and honor Martha Bray Carson, remember 
her contribution of the Pledge to the South Carolina state flag, and REsolve that 
the ungloved right hand be placed over the heart while reciting the Pledge.

Whereas, the State of 
South Carolina did not have a salute to the state flag for more than one 
hundred seventy-five years until Martha Bray Carson of Chester wrote the pledge 
for the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1950. Her pledge says, "I salute 
the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty, and 
faith"; and

Whereas, a civic 
leader, Mrs. Carson served the Mary Adair Daughters of the American Revolution 
Chapter as Regent and the South Carolina Society Daughters of the American 
Revolution as State Genealogist from 1936-to 1946 and as State Registrar from 1946-1949. 
She also served the United Daughters of the Confederacy as South Carolina 
Division President from 1944-1946 and as Registrar General of the entire 
organization from 1948-1951; and

Whereas, over the 
years, Mrs. Carson received many recognitions, including being admitted to the 
National League of Pen Women. She served in all offices with conscientious 
devotion to duty, efficiency in detail, and untiring interest; and

Whereas, Mrs. Carson passed 
away on September 16, 1953, and did not see the fruit of her labor before the 
South Carolina General Assembly adopted her pledge in April 1966; and

Whereas, it would be 
fitting and proper to recognize this daughter of South Carolina and to 
recognize that it is appropriate to place an ungloved right hand over the heart 
while reciting the pledge; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment that 
Martha Bray Carson has shown in serving the people and the State of South 
Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the 
South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, 
recognize and honor Martha Bray Carson, remember her contribution of the pledge 
to the South Carolina state flag, and resolve that the ungloved right hand be 
placed over the heart while reciting the pledge.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Martha Bray Carson's cousin, Julie 
N. Hardaway.

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