Wilson Applauds Passage of Francis Marion Memorial Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:Kim Olive

(202) 226-8260 (Office)

July 24, 2006

WILSON APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF FRANCIS MARION MEMORIAL ACT

The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 5057, the “Brigadier General Francis Marion Memorial Act.”The bill passed by a voice vote.Congressman Joe Wilson made the following statement:

“Brigadier General Francis Marion represented the state of South Carolina and our fledgling nation well with his brave service in the Revolutionary War.As a South Carolinian, I am proud his legacy has been honored with a memorial park in Washington, D.C.Yet, I feel strongly that a statue of the ’Swamp Fox’ should be erected on its premises.Passage of this bill is a crucial first step in making this dream a reality.

“I would specifically like to thank Ken Driggers and Nancy Stone-Collum of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, which serves as a conduit for the fundraising part of this process.Additionally, I would like to thank the South Carolina Humanities Council for supporting John McCabe, the man who originally had the vision to honor the ’Swamp Fox.’John created the Francis Marion Park Project to assist in the fundraising and planning efforts, and I cannot be more pleased with the progress that has taken place.Also, the National Park Service deserves recognition for their guidance through this important process.

“The entire South Carolina delegation, as well as Chairman Richard Pombo, have leant their support to this project.As such, I am confident our efforts will be successful.”

The “Brigadier General Francis Marion Memorial Act” authorizes the Marion Park Project a committee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia to honor Brigadier General Francis Marion.

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