As previously noted, I pre-filed legislation that would create a speciality license plate featuring the Gadsden Flag or as is more popularly known, the “Don’t Tread On Me” Flag.
This particular flag was created by Col. Christopher Gadsden of Charleston. He led the Sons of Liberty there and represented South Carolina at the Second Continental Congress. While in Congress, he was a member of the Marine Committee and presented the flag to Commodore Esek Hopkins as his personal standard.
He also presented a flag to the South Carolina Legislature in Charleston. An excerpt from the South Carolina legislative record reads – “Col. Gadsden presented to the Congress an elegant standard, such as is to be used by the commander in chief of the American navy; being a yellow field, with a lively representation of a rattle-snake in the middle in the attitude of going to strike and these words underneath, “Don’t Tread on Me.”
While the Gadsden Flag has been used throughout America’s history to reflect our patriotism, the Flag remains uniquely ours and should be available to South Carolinians who wish to show their patriotism.