WHEREAS, state law has traditionally provided the Governor with the authority to declare Christmas Eve of each year a legal holiday for State Government employees; and

WHEREAS, in previous years, state government employees have been granted three consecutive days off during the Christmas holiday season; and

WHEREAS, I encourage all State employees to celebrate the holiday season by spending time with family members and loved ones and to reflect on the blessings of the past year and look forward to the advent of a New Year.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 53-5-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, I hereby declare Tuesday, December 24, 2002, as a legal holiday for State government employees in South Carolina.