Smith receives Silver Crescent
Sammy Smith may have gotten one of the most prestigious awards for community service that the state has to offer Tuesday morning, but he was quite humble about the honor.
"I'm not just receiving this award for Sammy Smith, I'm receiving it for all the people in the past 60 years who have made Wagener the place it is," said Smith after accepting the S.C. Order of the Silver Crescent, a governor's award given to individuals who have displayed exceptional volunteerism in their community.
A black-and-white photograph of a 5-year-old boy holding flowers, looking at the camera in a sheepish manner, sat under the town pavilion in Wagener, where the award ceremony took place. That little boy was Smith, now 65, who sat across from the photograph listening to people from his community speak of his accomplishments. His longtime friend, Jim Garrison, a pastor of Gateway Ministries, said that Smith started out as the "Dennis the Menace" of Wagener when he moved there 60 years ago, as he went from yard to yard, snapping flower blooms from his neighbors' gardens. By the time he turned 18, he was helping the town itself bloom by catalyzing improvement projects in his town.
Smith has served as the president of the local garden club, was a chair of the Wagener Downtown Development Committee and was a chair of the Wagons to Wagener Festival.
Smith assisted in the installation of the "Welcome to Wagener" entrance signs, the new entrance to the Wagener Cemetery and the completion of new parks throughout the town. He also promoted the Wagener Veterans Memorial, is working on the first phase of a new museum that is to house the Conestoga wagon, which he obtained himself, and is working on a project through grants on a site which an incoming fighter jet will be placed as part of the memorial park.
Garrison said this list only scratches the surface of everything Smith has done for the town.
"You see, he never sees Wagener the way I have heard some people say - a dip hole town," Garrison said. "He sees only the potential the area has to develop, to being capable of supporting the needs of the residents while providing services - health, recreational, employment, spiritual development, as well as the beautification of the area."
Gov. Mark Sanford, nor a representative from the governor's office, were present at the award ceremony, but he did send a letter expressing thanks to Smith for his hard work in the community. Wagener town Mayor Mike Miller, Wagener Town Council, members of Aiken County Council and members from the S.C. State Garden Club were present at the ceremony.
Aiken County Councilwoman Kathy Rawls was one of several people to send the state a letter recommending Smith for the award.
"We are just very proud of Sammy," Rawls said. "We knew he was the best, and the state has confirmed it."
Miller said that Smith has been a great asset to the town and its progress.
"He sets fire - Sammy will start a project and gets it going," Miller said. "He does a good job."
Wagener Councilman John Hudson said Smith was very deserving of the award.
"It could only be given to that man," Hudson said. "I hope God blesses him to continue to help the town of Wagener."
When Smith spoke to his community about the award, he was gracious, and a smile illuminated his face as he stated how receiving the award was an indescribable honor.
He mentioned in his speech a young man, Ethan Busbee, touched his heart by writing an article called "What makes my community special" that was published in the Wagener Monthly describing how proud he was of his community. The Wagner-Salley High School senior said that he had written the piece for a scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., and was honored that he touched such an inspiring community member.
Smith ended his speech with a quote from Abraham Lincoln that was quite fitting: "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
It was quite evident from the enthusiastic applause from the people present at the ceremony that the Wagener community is proud of Mr. Smith.
Contact Amy Banton at abanton@aikenstandard.com.