2003

Monday, March 24, 2003, was a special day for the fifth and sixth grade students at the Sandy Run School. The Sandy Run Ruritan Club presented Liberty Day books to over one hundred students. These books contained the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States and will help students learn all about these two important documents in our country’s history.

Ned Nelson, principal of the school, gave a few opening remarks and introduced Howard Pees, Chairman of the Citizenship and Patriotism Committee from the Sandy Run Ruritan Club. Mr. Pees presented nineteen American flags to Principal Nelson to be given to the teachers at the Sandy Run School. These flags will be placed on each of the teacher’s desks at the school. Principal Nelson then introduced Dave Boney from the Ruritan Club to give the students a brief history about how the Liberty Day books began.

Principal Nelson introduced Roger Hill from the Calhoun County Council and a member of the Sandy Run Ruritan Club to introduce our special guest speaker for this presentation. Congressman Joe Wilson, Second Congressional District, gave those present a very informative speech highlighting the Sandy Run Community and Calhoun County’s involvement in securing freedom for all Americans from the Revolutionary War to the present. He stated, “America is the symbol of liberty in the world and this why protecting freedom in the world is so important”. After his speech Congressman Wilson answered questions from the students. Congressman Wilson and Ruritan members gave out the Liberty Day books to the students from Ms. Suzette Edwards and Ms. Mary Jackson’s fifth grade and Ms. Jennifer Chassereau and Ms. Amanda Dukes sixth grade.

Ms. Eliza Claxton, a member of the Calhoun County School Board, was present for this presentation. Members of the Sandy Run Ruritan Club present for this occasion were Jonney Albert, Millie Black, Dave Boney, Betty Geiger, Herbert Geiger, Roger Hill, Howard Pees, and Becky Starnes.

The Sandy Run Ruritan Club strives to make our community a better place to live. Ruritans believe that if we invest our time and energy in the young people of our community we will make a positive difference in their lives. These young people are our leaders of tomorrow. The Ruritan motto of Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service was quite evident on this day. Thanks to Congressman Wilson and all those who helped to make this a very memorable day for the fifth and sixth grade students at the Sandy Run School.