SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Brigadier General 
Francis Marion Memorial Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. COMMEMORATIVE WORK TO HONOR BRIGADIER 
GENERAL FRANCIS MARION AND HIS FAMILY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that: 
(1) Francis Marion was born in 1732 in St. 
John’s Parish, Berkeley County, South Carolina. He 
married Mary Esther Videau on April 20th, 1786. 
Francis and Mary Esther Marion had no children, 
but raised a son of a relative as their own, and gave 
the child Francis Marion’s name. 
(2) Brigadier General Marion commanded the 
Williamsburg Militia Revolutionary force in South 
Carolina and was instrumental in delaying the ad-
vance of British forces by leading his troops in dis-
rupting supply lines. 
(3) Brigadier General Marion’s tactics, which 
were unheard of in rules of warfare at the time, in-
cluded lightning raids on British convoys, after 
which he and his forces would retreat into the 
swamps to avoid capture. British Lieutenant Colonel 
Tarleton stated that ‘‘as for this damned old swamp 
fox, the devil himself could not catch him.’’ Thus, 
the legend of the ‘‘Swamp Fox’’ was born.
(4) His victory at the Battle of Eutaw Springs 
in September of 1781 was officially recognized by 
Congress. 
(5) Brigadier General Marion’s troops are be-
lieved to be the first racially integrated force fight-
ing for the United States, as his band was a mix of 
Whites, Blacks, both free and slave, and Native 
Americans. 
(6) As a statesman, he represented his parish 
in the South Carolina senate as well as his State at 
the Constitutional Convention. 
(7) Although the Congress has authorized the 
establishment of commemorative works on Federal 
lands in the District of Columbia honoring such cele-
brated Americans as George Washington, Thomas 
Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, the National Cap-
ital has no comparable memorial to Brigadier Gen-
eral Francis Marion for his bravery and leadership 
during the Revolutionary War, without which the 
United States would not exist. 
(8) Brigadier General Marion’s legacy must live 
on. Since 1878, United States Reservation 18 has 
been officially referred to as Marion Park. Located 
between 4th and 6th Streets, S.E., at the intersec-
tion of E Street and South Carolina Avenue, S.E.,
in Washington, DC, the park lacks a formal com-
memoration to this South Carolina hero who was im-
portant to the initiation of the Nation’s heritage. 
(9) The time has come to correct this oversight 
so that future generations of Americans will know 
and understand the preeminent historical and last-
ing significance to the Nation of Brigadier General 
Marion’s contributions. Such a South Carolina hero 
deserves to be given the proper recognition. 
(b) AUTHORITY
TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE 
WORK.—The Marion Park Project, a committee of the 
Palmetto Conservation Foundation, may establish a com-
memorative work on Federal land in the District of Co-
lumbia and its environs to honor Brigadier General 
Francis Marion and his service. 
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR COMMEMO-
RATIVE WORKS.—The commemorative work authorized by 
subsection (b) shall be established in accordance with 
chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Commemorative Works Act’’). 
(d) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS PROHIBITED.—Fed-
eral funds may not be used to pay any expense of the es-
tablishment of the commemorative work authorized by 
subsection (b). The Marion Park Project, a committee of 
the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, shall be solely re-
sponsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment 
of the expenses of, the establishment of that commemora-
tive work. 
(e) DEPOSIT OF EXCESS FUNDS.—If, upon payment 
of all expenses of the establishment of the commemorative 
work authorized by subsection (b) (including the mainte-
nance and preservation amount provided for in section 
8906(b) of title 40, United States Code), or upon expira-
tion of the authority for the commemorative work under 
chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code, there remains 
a balance of funds received for the establishment of that 
commemorative work, the Marion Park Project, a com-
mittee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, shall 
transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of 
the Treasury for deposit in the account provided for in 
section 8906(b)(1) of such title. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, 
the terms ‘‘commemorative work’’ and ‘‘the District of Co-
lumbia and its environs’’ have the meanings given to such 
terms in section 8902(a) of title 40, United States Code. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 5, 
2007. 
Attest:
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 497
AN ACT 
To authorize the Marion Park Project, a committee 
of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, to es-
tablish a commemorative work on Federal land in 
the District of Columbia, and its environs to 
honor Brigadier General Francis Marion.