On July 2, Beaufort’s Gov. Paul Hamilton Chapter sponsored a pilgrimage to the tomb of Lowcountry signer of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Heyward, Jr.  The tomb location is noted by a South Carolina Historical Marker on S.C. 462 near Ridgeland.<!--more-->
<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lifestyle-SARS.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2471" title="Lifestyle-SARS" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lifestyle-SARS-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Chapter President Wayne Cousar commenced the event by having the Hilton Head Island High School NJROTC Color guard post the colors, followed by chapter member Dr. Alton Fanning playing the “Star Spangled Banner” on his trumpet while the 40 plus attendees sang the anthem. The invocation was then given by Charles Aimar, chapter member and current President of the Heritage Society of Beaufort.
Sixth generation descendant Anne Heyward, currently historian for the Thomas Heyward, Jr. DAR Chapter, was the guest speaker addressing the many accomplishments of her fourth great grandfather Thomas Heyward. Jr., one of the areas earliest English settlers. Heyward was one of four men from South Carolina to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776.
As a patriot soldier, he and fellow South Carolinian Edward Rutledge were among the few signers to participate in action during the Revolutionary War, Heyward being wounded during the Battle of Port Royal on Feb 3, 1779 near Grays Hill on the outskirts of Beaufort.
Three wreaths were placed near the tomb of Heyward in honor of his contributions to the new nation. The Gov. Paul Hamilton Chapter wreath was placed by Hannah Schmucker of the Hilton Head Island Society of the Children of the American Revolution. Terry Block placed the second wreath as President of the Dr. George Mosse Chapter Hilton Head Island. A final wreath was placed by Douglas Doster, Vice President of the Midlands for the South Carolina Society, as a representative of his Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter SAR.