Contributed byRobert Slimp

The Wade Hampton Memorial Service was held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on Saturday, April 8, and was attended by 61 people, even though it rained for three hours before the service began at 3 o'clock. Many members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Order of Confederate Rose attended, some coming from as far as St. Augustine, Fla.

All were present to honor South Carolina's great Confederate hero, Wade Hampton III, who was also the governor who brought our state through the dark and oppressive days of Reconstruction and Union Occupation and restored the sovereignty to our people during his term of office from l876-79. He served as United States Senator from l879-91.

The best words that can describe our hero are inscribed on his tomb stone, "True Hearted, Whole Hearted, Faithful and Loyal." That is why we gathered this year to celebrate this great hero and statesman.

After the program, all walked in the rain to the grave site, where Maurice Bessinger of Barbeque fame laid a very appropriate flower spray on General Hampton's grave.

The group went to the Hampton statue on the State House grounds in spite of the rain and fired a salute. Tattoo and Taps sounded at the end of the observance. The salute was most unusual, because both re-enactors with rifles and artillery fired alternately. The artillery was placed on the west side of the State House.

The formal program at the ruins at Millwood Plantation was called off because of the rain, but all who wished to visit were invited to come to the site and take pictures. About a dozen people visited Millwood.