Subcommittee endorses Gold Shield Day to honor first responders killed in the line of duty
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Summary
The subcommittee unanimously approved Senate Bill 868 to designate June 1 as Gold Shield Day to honor families of first responders who died in the line of duty. Testimony from a veterans/first-responder nonprofit and law enforcement veterans highlighted lasting recognition and symbolic support.
The Municipal Affairs Subcommittee unanimously approved Senate Bill 868, which designates June 1 of each year as Gold Shield Day to honor first responders killed in the line of duty and encourages state agencies and public institutions to observe the day.
Theresa Thompson, chief operating officer of Upstate Warrior Solution and a former Greenville police officer, urged lawmakers to advance the measure so families of fallen first responders receive lasting state recognition. "The name and the day matter because it shapes how families are recognized, remembered, and spoken about long after the funeral," she told the subcommittee, adding that the bill carries no state cost.
David Weiner, who said he has served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for more than 25 years, also supported the bill and said South Carolina could be the first state in the nation to formally recognize Gold Shield families. "Gold Shield Day is not just a date on a calendar. It is a commitment from the state of South Carolina that those sacrifices and the families who live with them will not be forgotten," Weiner said.
Thompson told the committee South Carolina has lost "roughly 436" law enforcement officers and "around 100" firefighters in the line of duty; she and other speakers said state recognition provides meaningful, visible acknowledgment for families who continue to live in the state.
The chair called for the question, the roll recorded unanimous "Aye" votes from those polled, and the subcommittee advanced SB 868. The meeting adjourned following the vote.
