South Carolina flag variances stir up lively discourse

Flag design experts generally agree that South Carolina’s state flag is one of the five best in the nation. White images of a palm tree in the center and a crescent in the upper left on the hoist side appear on a dark blue background. It’s quite striking, actually.

 

In recent years, however, the South Carolina state flag has been singled out for its “inconsistencies.” 

Scott Malyerck of Newberry, S.C., observed that the flag flown atop the state capitol in Columbia was different from the one standing in the governor’s office. Malyerck is a principal in a political consulting and strategic communications firm. 

He was interviewed by Jeffrey Collins of the Associated Press. Malyerck’s research found that South Carolina doesn’t have written standards regarding its flag. The shades of blue differ. Some flags have symmetrical palmetto trees while others have more natural-looking trees.

 Scott Malyerck

“The details were often decided by which flag maker offered the lowest price to the state,” Malyerck said. “I thought it was kind of careless to leave it up to the low bidder.” 

When state legislators became aware of the conundrum in 2018, they did what lawmakers do – they formed a committee. 

The five-member South Carolina State Flag Study Committee noted that all of the flag’s symbolism goes back to the American Revolution. 

Col. William Moultrie’s South Carolina regiment repelled the first attempt by the British Navy to take Charleston in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island on June 28, 1776. 

The flag’s shade of indigo – a critical crop to South Carolina 250 years ago – matched the color of uniforms worn by Moultrie’s men. 

The flag’s crescent is not the shape of a waxing moon. Some researchers suggest that Moultrie and other officers wore known silver gorgets around their necks, crescent-shaped pieces of throat armor. South Carolina infantrymen adopted the symbol as their cap badge. 

Collins of the AP wrote: “The Sabal palmetto tree honored the material that Moultrie’s soldiers used to hastily construct a fort. British cannonballs bounced off the trees’ spongy bark and the invaders couldn’t get onshore.” 

Viewing the recommendation of the flag study committee, State Sen. Ronnie Cromer of Newberry said the revised image of the tree, although authentic, was perhaps a bit too unattractive to sell to the public.

Some critics said the shape of the tree looked like a scraggly toilet bowl brush in need of replacement. 

The committee went back to its drawing board and surfaced again with “an addendum” early in 2021, featuring two options that showed “healthier” palms. One was nearly symmetrical; the other was more natural.

The state flag bill got sidetracked when it hit the floor of the Senate. The legislature adjourned in May of 2021, leaving the issue unsettled.

Adam Benson of The (Charleston) Post and Courier reported that Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg was responsible for gumming up the works.

Sen. Hutto said spending time “deliberating the flag’s nuances” would have been a waste, according to Benson’s article.

There are more pressing problems facing the people of South Carolina than standardizing the design of the South Carolina flag, Sen. Hutto said.

 

Such as: What happened to Clemson’s “football dynasty?”