South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame

10/20/2026

We are approaching 60 nominations for this year's class. If you're headed to the State Fair, stop by the big white South Carolina industries tent on the left and nominate In person and receive a free gift or go to scmvhof.org/nominate To nominate online today!!!

10/10/2026

Come out & join as we welcome Nashville recording artist & class of 2026 Inductee, Brooks Herring to the South Carolina State Fair on Friday Oct 23rd. For a great night of & a chance to nominate your favorite for the class of 2027

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ONhPocPeozE&si=-I4emmG-IOi14nKk

09/27/2026

Female military veterans from across the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C., Sept. 21-24, for the Wounded Warrior Project’s 2026 Women Warriors Summit where they met with 120-plus congressional offices and leaders to advocate for policies impacting women veterans. Our own Dr. Caroline Fermin (USMC Lt. Col. ret.) was there. She’s pictured here, front row, kneeling next to the lady in the green dress. Caroline is a S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2025).

09/25/2026

WE RECENTLY MENTIONED Capt. John Paul Jones’ famous battle cry: “I’ve not yet begun to fight!" during the epic sea battle between Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis, Sept. 23, 1779 (exactly 247 years ago this week). What you MAY NOT KNOW however is Jones’ courageous personal aide, Midshipman John Mayrant from Charleston, South Carolina, led the boarding party that captured Serapis. Mayrant was seriously wounded, but survived. In the 20th Century, two U.S. Navy destroyers bore his name – USS Mayrant (DD-31) which saw action during World War I, and USS Mayrant (DD-402) which saw action during World War II. Mayrant is an inductee (Class of 1776) in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

09/23/2026

Exactly 247 years ago today, the 42-gun Continental frigate Bonhomme Richard commanded by Commodore John Paul Jones, “father of the American Navy,” defeated the British warship HMS Serapis in the famous sea battle in which Jones shouted to his enemy: “I’ve not yet begun to fight!” WERE THERE SOUTH CAROLINIANS aboard Bonhomme Richard? Yes, Midshipman John Mayrant from Charleston served as Jones’ aide, and he led the boarding party which captured Serapis. Mayrant was badly wounded but survived. Also Charlestonian Richard Wall served aboard Bonhomme Richard as a "cadet [today known as a midshipman] of Marines." Wall was ultimately captured near Ireland while pursuing deserters and imprisoned in England. We’ll have more.

09/16/2026

HERE'S A GREAT STORY about last Thursday's S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame game played in Charlotte. The story has been published in several Columbia-area newspapers so far. See –

South Mecklenburg High School hosts first-ever S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame Football Game By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Among the myriad memorial services held late last week commemorating the 25th…

09/15/2026

Do you know of a deserving military veteran who has made a significant impact in their community since they left active service, or perhaps during their active duty time they provided extraordinary service to our nation through combat valor or otherwise exceptional leadership. If so, nominate them for the SCMVHOF Class of 2027. It is our firm belief that EVERY veteran is worthy of consideration but less than 1% will meet the exacting criteria for induction. Nominate a veteran who you believe is worthy of consideration now through December at
https://scmvhof.org/nominate/

Special thanks to Jeffcoat Law Firm for their support as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjO4TOmUJtw

Eligibility for nomination requires the nominee to have either been retired or honorably discharged from uniformed military service to the United States of America and/or the State of South Carolina (see Qualifications page). Additionally, nominees must not be actively serving in any branch or depar...

09/14/2026

Col. (Ret.) Bill Connor, U.S. Army Infantry, has been reelected to The Citadel’s prestigious Board of Visitors. Bill is a career Army Infantry officer (Airborne-Ranger). The Citadel is his undergraduate alma mater. Bill is also a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, a “distinguished graduate” of the Army War College, and third-generation graduate of the Army War College. During the War in Afghanistan, Bill served as the senior U.S. military advisor in that country’s embattled Helmand Province. Bill is a S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2026).

09/13/2026

Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Lamont Christian, U.S. Army, is photographed during last week's 9/11 Memorial Service in front of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The Convention Center is the permanent home site of the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame (SCMVHOF). NOTE: Lamont, a SCMVHOF inductee (Class of 2025) is wearing his official SCMVHOF blazer designed, fitted, and made by Pearce Bespoke-Charlotte. FYI – Pearce Bespoke also produces jackets for Heisman Trophy recipients. More later. [Photo courtesy of the Richland County Sheriff's Department.]

09/12/2026

PLAYERS WEAR SPECIAL JERSEYS AT FIRST-EVER S.C. MILITARY VETERANS HALL OF FAME FOOTBALL GAME: This past Thursday, Sept. 10th (the eve of 9/11), the South Mecklenburg (Charlotte, N.C.) High School Football Team both honored the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame and commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 by wearing special 9/11 remembrance jerseys and playing in the first-ever S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame (SCMVHOF) football game with Ardrey Kell High School.

Approximately 1,100 spectators gathered for the game which raised close to $5,000 for the SCMVHOF’s mission of educating and inspiring the next generation of service from America's high school students,

“The jerseys we wore didn’t just tell the crowd who South Meck was,” said SMHS Offensive Lineman Brendan Hall, a rising senior with over 20 college offers including South Carolina and Clemson “The jerseys were a sign to never forget 9/11. That day was not only an historic event for America. Thousands of lives were lost and hundreds died trying to save others. We remember that day and honor it, and pass it along for generations to come.”

SMHS Head Football Coach Joe Evans agrees. "We were honored to be chosen to participate as the first host-school for the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame game,” said Evans. “As coaches it's our job to lead and mentor young people as they prepare to move into adulthood. Some of our student athletes are considering military careers, and so much of what the military does translates to football. We felt uniquely positioned and especially honored to be selected as the first team to host a Hall of Fame game."

SCMVHOF Executive Director Jay Alverson said: “We are incredibly grateful to Coach Evans as well as the administration of South Mecklenburg High School for hosting this first-ever Hall of Fame game. We hope schools across South Carolina will be interested in hosting the game in the future and we would welcome any school interested in hosting to reach out to us. We would love to talk about how hosting a game helps with the Hall of Fame’s mission of honoring, educating and inspiring the memory of those who have served as well as the next generation to serve.”

Alverson, a SCMVHOF inductee (Class of 2025) also serves as SMHS’s offensive line coach. More later.