The Order of the Palmetto was instituted by Governor John C. West in 1971. The honor is awarded by the governor to an individual \u201cin grateful recognition of your contributions and friendship to the State of South Carolina and her people.\u201d The honoree receives a certificate signed by the governor and bearing an impression of the state seal. The certificate, designed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, features a background image of a palmetto. The award is thought to have been modeled on the Commonwealth of Kentucky\u2019s practice of awarding the title of \u201cColonel\u201d to its honorees.<\/p>\n
Concerned that the great numbers of awards might lessen its value, Governor Jim Hodges appointed a screening committee to review nominations and make recommendations for the Order of the Palmetto and other gubernatorial awards. Originally the award bestowed on the recipient the honorary title of \u201cPalmetto Gentleman\u201d or \u201cPalmetto Lady,\u201d without any actual attendant rights or privileges. In December 2001 Hodges adopted a new format for the certificate of award, on the recommendation of the screening committee. This omitted the titles \u201cPalmetto Lady (or Gentleman)\u201d in order \u201cto eliminate the distinction between male and female recipients of the award.\u201d As of October 2004 over 3,500 Order of the Palmetto Awards have been made.<\/p>\n
The Order of the Silver Crescent was initiated by Governor David Beasley in 1997 as a companion award to the Order of the Palmetto and was intended to honor the achievements of South Carolinians aged eighteen or younger. In May 1999 Governor Hodges determined that the Silver Crescent would be awarded to persons of any age for exemplary community contributions and achievements. Each honoree received a certificate decorated with a large crescent moon, signed by the governor, and bearing the governor\u2019s seal of office.<\/p>\n
\u201cState Recognition: Order of the Palmetto.\u201d Columbia State, <\/em>July 7, 1971, p. B13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Order of the Palmetto was instituted by Governor John C. West in 1971. The honor is awarded by the governor to an individual \u201cin grateful recognition of your contributions and friendship to the State of South Carolina and her people.\u201d The honoree receives a certificate signed by the governor and bearing an impression of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":-1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","class_list":["post-8925","entry","type-entry","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ecms-a-z","ecms-encyclopedia","ecms-government-and-law","ecms-o"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n