Local citizens gathered to honor the memory of our county’s namesake and all Patriot ancestors as the General Andrew Pickens and Revolutionary War Patriots Monument was dedicated the morning of Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Legacy Square in Pickens, across from Pickens First Baptist Church. The dedication ceremony was one of the events planned by the Pickens County America 250 Committee and the Pickens County Historical Society, as part of the celebration of our nation’s 250^th birthday, this year’s Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. The theme for the dedication ceremony was “Honoring the people, places, and principles that kept the spirit of liberty alive.”

Joyce Hansel, Regent of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, welcomed the crowd to the special ceremony. “Good morning. On behalf of the Pickens County America 250 Committee and the Pickens County Historical Society, it is my honor to welcome you to this special occasion. As we begin this ceremony, may we be mindful that the freedoms we celebrate were hard won and remain a sacred trust – one that calls each generation to remembrance, stewardship, and faithful service.”

She then introduced Bryan Hester, Minister of Music of Pickens First Baptist Church, who, with children from Pickens First Baptist Church (brother and sister J.P. Shipman and Anna Shipman and sisters Caroline and Catherine Chapman), led in the singing of several stanzas of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” (lyrics written in 1831 by theological student Samuel Francis Smith), a song that was a de facto national anthem prior to the official designation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our national anthem.

“My country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring.

“My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

“Our fathers’ God to Thee,

Author of liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.”

Rev. Isaiah Scipio, Mayor of the City of Pickens, then gave the invocation. “Let us pray. Oh, God, our heavenly Father, we come here with thanksgiving in our hearts, thanking you for the many blessings in which you bestowed upon us individually and us as a community. Now, Father, as we come here to commemorate and remember the foundations that we stand upon and the liberties that we hold true, Father, let us never forget it is because of the Lord thy God who has brought us and it is the Lord our God who will carry us on. Father, we thank you for everyone that assembled this program, all the ones that had anything to do with it, so that we can be able to enjoy this day and honor our founder. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

Sisters Dianne Mays Crooks and Julie Mays Thompson, descendants of General Andrew Pickens and members of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag (originally written by Baptist minister Francis Bellamy): “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Their brother, Harry Mays, Jr., a descendant of General Andrew Pickens and a member of the General Andrew Pickens Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of South Carolina (written in 1950 by Martha Bray Carson): “I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith.”

Kayla Culberton then sang the first stanza of the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” (lyrics written by lawyer Francis Scott Key in his poem “Defense of Fort McHenry”):  

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Hansel thanked the Boy Scouts of Troop 51 for presenting the flags, and she introduced Wayne Kelley, Senior Vice President of the Pickens County Historical Society, who delivered opening remarks.

“Good morning, and welcome,” said Kelley. “On behalf of the Pickens County Historical Society and the Pickens County America 250 Committee, we are honored to welcome you to this special dedication ceremony as we commemorate the service and sacrifice of General Andrew Pickens and the Revolutionary War patriots of the South Carolina backcountry.

“Although Pickens County did not yet exist during the American Revolution, this land was part of the historic Ninety Six District, a frontier region, where ordinary men and women faced extraordinary challenges during the struggle for independence.

“It was here that patriot militias defended homes, churches, settlements, and liberty itself. It was here that leaders like Andrew Pickens emerged with courage, determination, and deep faith. And it was from this region that patriots marched into battles that helped secure American independence.

“As our nation observes the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we pause to remember those who came before us, not simply as names in history books, but as neighbors, families, farmers, soldiers, and patriots whose legacy still lives among us.

“This monument stands as a tribute to their sacrifice and as a reminder that liberty must be remembered, honored, and passed on to future generations.”

Hansel then introduced Carolyn Nations, Pickens County America 250 Committee Chair, who shared her historical reflection, titled “Andrew Pickens and the Patriots of the Backcountry.”

“During the Revolutionary War, South Carolina became one of the fiercest battlegrounds of the struggle for American independence. Much of that conflict unfolded in the backcountry of the Ninety Six District, where patriot militias fought to defend their homes and communities amid brutal civil war conditions that often divided neighbors and even families.

“Among the most respected patriot leaders of the South Carolina frontier was General Andrew Pickens. Born in Pennsylvania and raised on the frontier, Pickens became known for his leadership, courage, and deep sense of duty. He served as a militia commander during the Cherokee campaigns and later became one of the most important patriot leaders in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.

“General Pickens distinguished himself in battles such as Kettle Creek, the Ring Fight, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs, and numerous engagements throughout the South Carolina backcountry.

“At the Battle of Cowpens in January of 1781, Pickens and his militia played a decisive role in one of the greatest American victories of the Revolutionary War. Under the command of General Daniel Morgan, Pickens’ militia carried out a carefully planned maneuver that helped lead to the defeat of the British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

“Yet Andrew Pickens was not alone. He was joined by countless farmers, settlers, militiamen, church leaders, mothers, wives, and families from the South Carolina frontier who endured hardship, violence, and uncertainty in the pursuit of liberty. Some never returned home. Others carried the scars of the war as a remainder for the rest of their lives.

“Today, we honor all of them.

“May this monument ensure that their stories will never be forgotten. Thank you.”

Hansel then introduced State Representative Davey Hiott, of Pickens.

“Good morning,” said Hiott. “Thank y’all for being here. This is another great day in Pickens County, another great day we can celebrate the history of what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve seen accomplished, what we know, going forward, is going to be great not only for Pickens County but for the state of South Carolina. 

“It’s good to see so many young people here today. Bryan and the young children sang earlier. They may not quite understand it yet, but, one day, hopefully, they will understand what this truly means to Pickens County and what things like Andrew Pickens did for our county mean to each and every one of us.

“So, today, in the presence of this community and in honor of the enduring spirit of liberty, we dedicate this monument to General Andrew Pickens and the Revolutionary War Patriots of the South Carolina backcountry. May we remember their courage and honor their sacrifice. May we remember that these Patriots stood with Andrew Pickens in the backcountry. They stood in homes, churches, fields, forests, and forts. They stood when the cause looked nearly lost. They stood when surrender would have been easier. They stood because liberty was worth the cost. This is the story we inherit. As we approach July 4^th, we are not merely preparing to celebrate another anniversary. We are preparing to remember a responsibility.

“The Revolution was not only about winning independence from Great Britain. It was about founding a nation upon principles that had to be protected, tested, debated, defended, and passed forward. 

“The patriots we honor today did not know how their story would end. They did not know whether independence would succeed. They did not know whether later generations would remember their sacrifices. 

“But they acted anyway. They acted because they believed liberty mattered. And, now, it is our turn to remember. May we remember these soldiers who fought through heat, hunger, fear, and danger. May we remember the families who suffered through occupation and war. May we remember that liberty was not won easily, and it was not won at one place or by one person alone. The place where we stand today was one of the places where liberty was tested, defended, and won.

“Liberty lives in our history. It lives in our memory. It lives in our service. It lives when we preserve the places where those Patriots stood. It lives when we teach children the stories of those who sacrificed. It lives when we honor these men and women who helped build this nation. From today henceforth, may this monument stand as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made in the cause of freedom.

“May all who visit this place remember the cost of liberty and the duty of every generation to preserve it.

“At this time, we will unveil the monument.”

Hiott then asked children present to come back on stage. “I want all the young children to come back up here,” he said. “This is part of your history. We want you to be a part of this. Children, come on back up here. This is going to be part of your history. And, every time you see this, remember those that fought for us and those that defended freedom.” He then asked the children to, on the count of three, pull the ribbon, which they did, to the applause of the crowd.

“Thank y’all, young people,” said Rep. Hiott. “This is history. You’ve been a part of history today, and thank you very much.”

Harry Mays, Jr. then came forward and rang the bell of freedom 13 times, one time for each of the original 13 colonies: Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Hansel then introduced State Representative Neal Collins, of Easley, a member of the Pickens County America 250 Committee, who delivered the closing remarks.

“Good morning,” said Collins. “In a small town like ours, gatherings like this mean something special. We are not strangers standing in a crowd. We are a community. We are people who know one another and remember together. Today, we have come together in this place to pause, reflect, and to honor sacrifice.

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, ordinary Americans chose courage over fear and liberty over submission, and, because of their sacrifice, a nation was born. Because they remembered freedom’s value, we gather here today beneath the blessings of liberty.

“So, today, as we stand here together, let us be grateful, grateful for their courage. The freedoms we enjoy today did not arrive by accident. They were entrusted to us by generations who believed that liberty was worth defending.

“In every generation, there is a temptation to move too fast, to forget too easily, and to let memory fade. Ceremonies like this push back against that. They tell our children and grandchildren: Do not forget. Do not forget the ones who fell. Do not forget the ones who showed us what honor and courage look like. 

“Honor does not only belong on battlefields. We honor the fallen when we live worthy lives ourselves. We honor them when we love our families, serve our neighbors, keep our word, help those in need, and teach the next generation that freedom comes with a cost. We honor them when we remember that patriotism is not just something we say. It is something we live. So, today, as we stand here together, let us be grateful that, in this town, we still make time to remember what truly matters. May this monument always remind us that heroism is real, sacrifice is sacred, and memory is a duty. May God bless Pickens County and bless the United States of America.”

Hansel then introduced the Honor Guard of the Walhalla American Legion Post 124. A member of the Honor Guard expressed appreciation for being able to join in the special ceremony. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Walhalla American Legion Military Burial Team is honored to be in your presence today in our sister city of Pickens. Thank you so much for allowing us to be here and participate in this particular event.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, join us in a moment of silence and reflect on the memory of men and women who have given their lives for the defense of freedom not only for the United States of America but for the countries around the world.”

Following the moment of silence, seven members of the Honor Guard gave a 21-gun salute, and another member played “Taps.”

Pickens Mayor Rev. Isaiah Scipio then gave the benediction. “Now unto him, who is able to keep us from falling, find us faultless before the throne with exceeding great joy, to the all wise God, give us peace, dominion, and power, henceforth now and forever more, Amen.”

Hansel then asked for any veterans in the audience to raise a hand, so that everyone could recognize and honor them with a round of applause.

She then invited everyone to a reception at the historic Hagood-Mauldin House (adjacent to Legacy Square), the former home to Frances Hagood Mauldin, the first Regent of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which was chartered in 1920. Current Fort Prince George Chapter members hosted the reception, serving a special cake for the occasion.

Following are words shared on the program for the dedication ceremony:

“Brigadier General Andrew Pickens and the Patriots of the Backcountry:

“Brigadier General Andrew Pickens was one of the most respected Patriot leaders of the American Revolution. Born in Pennsylvania and later settling in the South Carolina backcountry, Pickens devoted his life to the service of his community, state, and nation.

“During the Revolutionary War, he commanded militia forces drawn from the frontier settlements of the Ninety Six District. These citizen-soldiers were farmers, craftsmen, ministers, and neighbors who left their homes and families to defend the cause of American independence. Under Pickens’ leadership, they fought with courage and determination in some of the most important engagements of the Southern Campaign, including Kettle Creek, the Ring Fight, Cowpens, and Eutaw Springs.

“At the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781, Pickens and his militia played a decisive role in one of the most brilliant American victories of the Revolutionary War. Their disciplined actions helped secure a victory that altered the course of the war in the South and contributed to the chain of events that ultimately led to victory at Yorktown.

“The men who served under General Pickens endured hardship, danger, and sacrifice in pursuit of liberty. Though many names have been lost to history, their service helped secure the freedoms enjoyed by generations of Americans.

“This monument honors General Andrew Pickens and the Revolutionary War Patriots of the South Carolina backcountry whose courage, sacrifice, and devotion to liberty helped build our nation.”

The monument includes the placement of the Hopewell Stone, a stone from the hearth of General Andrew Pickens’ original Hopewell home, the location of the Treaties between the United States and the Cherokee (November 28, 1785), the Choctaw (January 3, 1786), and the Chickasaw (January 10, 1786).

Pickens County Historical Society Senior Vice President Wayne Kelley told The Pickens County Chronicle on November 4, 2025, “The Pickens County Historical Society was very pleased and lucky to have been given a hearth stone from the fireplace of General Andrew Pickens. It was donated by a direct descendant of the general and had been carefully stored away for decades.  We think the Hopewell Stone is a grand and meaningful addition to our monument to General Pickens. It has found the ideal home where it can be appreciated by everyone now and for generations to come.”

A description on the monument about General Andrew Pickens was written by the late Dennis Chastain, the Blue Wall Vice President of the Pickens County Historical Society and a member of the Pickens County America 250 Committee, who had given slideshow presentations about the Revolutionary War General. The text reads as follows: “GENERAL ANDREW PICKENS Sept. 13, 1739 – Aug. 11, 1817, Andrew Pickens was a remarkable man and a true hero of the Revolutionary War. From humble beginnings, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General of the militia. Unique among his peers in our state, Pickens was engaged in the war front, the very beginning at the Battle of Savages Old Field to the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the last formal battle of the epic Revolutionary War in South Carolina. His decisive victories at the Battles of Kettle Creek and Cowpens changed the course of the war and ultimately led to the American victory in 1783. In later life, he was regularly visited by Cherokee warriors whom he had fought on the battlefield. These former foes honored him with the title Skyagunsta – esteemed war chief.”