FEEDBACK: There’s another state military museum

To the editor:

A friend of mine sent me your editorial regarding why we exactly need a Confederate Relic Room.  Of particular interest was your assertion that said Relic Room be renamed the “South Carolina Military Museum”.

Look at the full name of the Confederate Relic Room.

Fortunately for citizens of the Palmetto State, there already exists a South Carolina Military Museum.  Located in Columbia across from Williams-Brice Stadium and inside the T. Eston Marchant National Guard Complex, the museum honors ALL of our sons and daughters in uniform from 1670 — when the colony of Carolina was founded — to the modern Global War on Terror.

If you haven’t heard of us, then it’s only because we have lacked the generous state support like the Confederate Relic Room.  Instead, we have relied upon a legion of volunteers to literally build our museum from the ground up.  In fact, presently, we are the second largest military museum in South Carolina, next only to Patriot’s Point.

The South Carolina Museum embodies all of the items you took issue with in your editorial.  In this regard, we do not fixate on one particular conflict or era.  Rather, we cover all of the battles and wars that have colored our state’s history — including some that many Sandlappers have never heard of.

— Steven C. Jeffcoat, registrar and public affairs officer, S.C. Military Museum, Columbia, S.C.

Editor’s Note: What makes this whole thing even more confusing is that the actual name of the Relic Room is “The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum” — which means there are two South Carolina military museums in one town!

Tom Johnson is a treasure

To the editor:

Since Charleston Currents ALWAYS seems to have something that elicits a response, here comes another one!  I don’t know this issue’s Mystery Photo, but I do know Tom Johnson.

I met him at The Carter Center where I served as interim volunteer coordinator for the president. I even have photos of him kissing me…in front of the volunteers… to prove it. My husband, on the other hand, lent a hand to Tom and helped him plant thousands of tulip bulbs.  The grounds of The Carter Center were magnificent.  I’m sure Tom left a huge void when he came to Magnolia.

It was nice reconnecting with him when he first arrived, and it was nice seeing him highlighted in the latest issue.

— Name withheld upon request

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