South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame

06/03/2026

TODAY AT 3:00 P.M. – the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame’s own Jay Alverson will be interviewed on WIS-TV’s Soda City Live (3:00 p.m. today). Jay, the SCMVHOF’s executive director, will discuss the Hall of Fame’s induction dinner this Saturday evening. Tell others. Tune in this afternoon. Again, 3:00 p.m.

06/02/2026

SET YOUR DVRs: Jay Alverson, executive director of the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame (SCMVHOF) will appear as a guest on WIS-TV's Soda City Live at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, June 3) discussing among other things the SCMVHOF induction dinner this Saturday evening. Please check back for updates. Remind others. Tune in at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.

04/20/2026

DID YOU KNOW: Command Sergeant Major Lamont Christian, U.S. Army (Ret.), serves as the Chief Mission Officer and Director of Post Traumatic Growth Programs at The Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood, S.C. A career combat infantryman with 33 years of distinguished service – including multiple deployments through Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom – and service as commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy and “Post” Command Sergeant Major at Fort Jackson, Christian today leads veterans and first responders as they “turn life’s traumas into strength.” Among his awards, honors, and military decorations, Christian is an inductee in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame (Class of 2025). He is also an inductee in both the Fort Jackson Hall of Fame and the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Hall of Fame. He is two-time SCDVA Veteran of the Quarter and a Reserve Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

02/16/2026

John Laurens, an inductee in the Class of 1776 is easily one of the BRAVEST SOLDIERS to have served in the American Revolution, Among the many stories associated with his extraordinary life, Laurens commanded a light-infantry battalion in the storming of an enemy redoubt at Yorktown. BTW, we're looking for nominations for the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame. NOMINATE here https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/south-carolina-military-veterans-hall-of-fames-nomination-form

02/12/2026

Did you know that ANYONE anywhere in the United States can nominate ANY (SC) they feel meets ANY one of our 4 eligibility categories.
IF a veteran was:

A. Born in South Carolina

B. Commissioned as an officer upon graduation from a SC college or university

C. Attended school in SC

D. Stationed at a SC base for a duration longer than initial entry training

E. Resided in the state for at least 5 years

They are eligible for consideration in one of the following 4 categories:

1. Medal of Honor Recipient.

2. Outstanding Valor in Combat.

3. Exceptional Service to the Nation/Community during Active Duty or Active National Guard/Reserve Service.

4. Exceptional Service to their Community following retirement or Honorable Discharge

All nomination packages are good for 3 years and will come with a Certificate of Nomination suitable for framing.

We encourage EVERYONE who knows a veteran to nominate them for consideration. This could be mothers, fathers brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, teachers coaches, mentors, community, civic, church and scout leaders. We want to archive the stories of as many SC veterans as possible but we need YOUR help

To get started nominating YOUR favorite veteran visit

https://scmvhof.org/nominate/

for details or visit our secure nomination page directly at
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/south-carolina-military-veterans-hall-of-fames-nomination-form

We also have several opportunities available for patriotic South Carolinians that are not veterans but want to support our veteran community. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa, at [email protected] to get started.

We even have a social media available for bright young student(s) or a blossoming professional looking to broaden their skill set as well as traveling across the state meeting our great heroes while running our social media platforms and upcoming podcast and YouTube page.

Contact Jay via [email protected] if you're interested

And lastly, if you are a company or business that would like to highlight your veteran employees while supporting our educational outreach efforts. Please email us at [email protected] first the. visit our secure donation page at https://scmvhof.org/donate/

And stay tuned for information on our First annual Black Tie induction gala to be held at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on June 6th 2026.

02/10/2026

DID YOU KNOW: The S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame has an official prayer? Composed in August 2025 by our own W. Thomas Smith Jr. who also composed the official prayers for the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff's Department and the S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame. Please visit – https://scmvhof.org/prayer/ to read our prayer. Here's more about the origin of the prayers at POLICE1 –https://www.police1.com/police-heroes/from-texas-rangers-to-richland-county-a-prayer-for-todays-deputies

Inspired by a century-old Texas Rangers’ prayer, W. Thomas Smith Jr. crafted a modern invocation for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, reflecting faith, courage and service in 2025

02/08/2026

Maj. Gen. Jim Livingston, USMC (Ret.), recipient of the Medal of Honor, and Col. Kevin Shwedo, U.S. Army Infantry (Ret.), both S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductees. DID YOU KNOW: Col. Shwedo, is the current executive director of the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles which employs 1,314 personnel across 65 offices statewide. Col. Shwedo is also the Civilian Aide Emeritus to the Secretary of the Army. We’ll have more. In the meantime, please support your S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame at – https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/scmvhof-patriots-donation-drive

02/06/2026

Two of our S.C. Military Hall of Fame Inductees Sheriff Leon Lott (Class of 2025) and Lt. Col. James E. Smith Jr. (Class of 2025) were recently recognized by Furman University’s prestigious Riley Institute. See story at MidlandsBiz – https://whosonthemove.com/furman-universitys-prestigious-riley-institute-recognizes-12-fellows/ The story was also published in the historically significant NATIONAL LAW REVIEW and myriad major broadcast media publications from coast-to-coast. We’ll have more.

Three of the 12 were among MidlandsBiz’s sixty most influential military leaders By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Riley Institute at Furman University recognized 12 Fellows in the Institute’s February…

02/04/2026

The S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame was recognized yesterday by both the S.C. House of Representatives and the S.C. Senate with a concurrent resolution. HUGE HONOR. See story at – https://usmarines.einnews.com/pr_news/889356696/palmetto-state-s-prestigious-military-hall-of-fame-honored-by-s-c-general-assembly
More to come.

S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame recognized in a concurrent resolution by the S.C. House and Senate

02/03/2026

Support the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It’s worthwhile and easy. Click link to donate directly – https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/scmvhof-patriots-donation-drive.