(Columbia) April 14, 2004 - When it comes to the HL Hunley, no one is more passionate than Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), "So strong that if Titanic had had her iron plating system, Titanic could have survived the iceberg."

His Senate office is filled with models and images of the sub. One painting shows a soldier standing next to the Hunley. The soldier resembles and is supposed to be McConnell.

Even he never expected Saturday's funeral for the Hunley's final crew would turn into six days of pageantry, drawing world-wide attention to Charleston, "This funeral has grown and continues to grow. We understand the press credentials alone are exceeding even a presidential visit. The city is sold out."

Not everyone is so enthusiastic. Rep. Joe Neal (D-Richland) says some of this week's events celebrate a culture that should be laid to rest, "Understand that not all of us join with them in that nostalgia. For some of us it's not nostalgia. For some of us it's simply pain and we don't care to remember it in that way."

McConnell has a different view of the events, "I think it's a dangerous precedent to open up quarrels with the past. Instead, remember it for what it was, learn from the mistakes, enjoy the achievements that were there, honor the valor, the courage, the dedication of our ancestors. And move on."

McConnell says the science of the Hunley is only one reason so many people will be traveling to the Charleston area this week and for years to come, "Hunley has paid back many times what we've invested in her to bring her home, but she will go on now to form a world-class attraction that will be based on the historical story. It'll be based on the technology of the Hunley, the science of the recovery and the science of the conservation and include the love story."

McConnell has been interviewed this week by national and international media and is speaking Thursday in Charleston. He'll be a participant in Saturday's funeral. Other high ranking state officials will also attend. Governor Mark Sanford has declined, citing a conflict with his Air Force Reserve duties.

There have been several events all week commemorating the crew. On Friday there will be a requiem mass for them, before their remains are laid to rest in Charleston's historic Magnolia Cemetary on Saturday.

By Jack Kuenzie
Posted 7:37pm by BrettWitt