Grand Marshal is former Apollo Astronaut Charles Duke; Scholarship Winner is Ben Jolly

May 6, the Johnston, SC, Peach Blossom Festival will showcase great entertainment, arts and crafts, food concessions, a parade, an area for children, a cruise-in, and much more. The popular Festival is now in its 39^th year.

The parade Grand Marshal this year is Charles Duke, a former astronaut who walked on the moon 51 years ago.

The 87-year-old is one of only four living astronauts who have walked on the moon.

Charles lived in Johnston during 1943-44 before moving to Florida and later to Lancaster, SC, where Charles and his twin, Bill, were raised.

As an adult, Charles decided to follow his father into the military and went to the U.S. Naval Academy. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a U.S. Air Force officer.

He is an American former astronaut, U.S. Air Force officer, and a test pilot. As lunar module pilot of Apollo 16 in 1972, he became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon at age 36.

A public reception for Charles Duke will be held at 1 p.m. at the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Office in downtown Johnston.

Robert Herlong Scholarship

This year, the Robert H. Herlong Scholarship Award winner is Ben Jolly.

Ben is active in the community and in his church, Edgefield First Baptist Church (EFBC).

Ben is actively involved in EFBC’s furniture and clothing ministry, the Blessed Bedzzz program, Men’s Ministry, the Baptist Association’s Churches Changing Communities 365, and vacation bible school.

Part of the furniture and clothing ministries allows him to help sort and hang donated clothing, as well as deliver clothes. He is actively involved in picking up donated furniture, organizing it in the warehouse, and delivering/setting it up in recipients’ homes.

Blessed Bedzzz is a new program with the goal of every child in Edgefield County having his/her own bed. Each recipient gets a new twin mattress, frame, pillow, and Bible.

The Men’s Ministry constructs ramps for the elderly, sick, and handicapped, and all materials and labor are free of charge.

The Strom Thurmond High School baseball and sports medicine programs also provide him with volunteer opportunities through baseball camps and weekly visits to special needs classes at JET and Strom Thurmond.

Festival Activities

The Festival begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, when crafters and food vendors open and entertainment begins. The parade is held at 10:30 a.m. A Cruise In will bring in many vehicles for participants to enjoy. The cars will be available for viewing after the parade through about 3 p.m. in the parking lot of All About Performance (formerly Jim Satcher Motors).

All events are held in historic downtown Johnston.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Health Care, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, US Fibers, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, Herlong Ford, KJs Market, SRP Federal Credit Union, Creative Catering and First Citizens Bank, Johnston.

This year’s Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Dr. Hugh Morgan Family Practice, Moorecraft Cabinets, Trantech Radiator Products, Pendarvis Chevrolet, Titan Farms, Generac, and Tidwell Jewelers.

Thousands of patrons descended on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to remind citizens about the peach industry and to open its arms to visitors.

The Johnston, S.C., Peach Blossom Festival entertainment for the day is now set, with a variety of performers for the May 6 event.

The day’s entertainment begins at 9 a.m. with local band Steel Justice kicking off the day. At 9:30 a.m., the JET Middle School Chorus takes the stage. At 10 a.m., the Abney Family will perform.

At 10:30 a.m., the parade will be held in downtown Johnston.

Beginning at 11 a.m. will be a prayer of dedication by Rev. Willie Abney, Bland Baptist Church, Johnston. Next will be the presentation of the colors, followed by the National Anthem, performed by Karalynn Hecker, Strom Thurmond High School Senior Gifted and Talented Choral Student.

Next, Johnston Mayor Thomas Holmes will provide the welcome, recognize the dignitaries and Peach Blossom queens, and recognize Grand Marshal Charles Duke.

At noon, the Johnston Elementary School Chorus will perform, followed by Rhythm and Class Dance Studio, North Augusta, at 12:30 p.m.

At 1 p.m., the weigh-in to determine winners for the Bass Fishing Tournament will be held in front of the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Building.

A public reception for Charles Duke will be held at 1 p.m. at the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Office in downtown Johnston

On the entertainment stage from 1-2 p.m., Band of Ages, which plays classic rock hits, performs. They are followed at 2:15 p.m. by Cedar Creek Church. From 3-4 p.m., the entertainment ends as it started, with Steel Justice providing live music.

The entertainment is free and concludes about 4 p.m.

This year’s Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Dr. Hugh Morgan Family Practice, Moorecraft Cabinets, Trantech Radiator Products, Pendarvis Chevrolet, Titan Farms, Generac, and Tidwell Jewelers.

Thousands of patrons descended on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to remind citizens about the peach industry and to open its arms to visitors.
The popular Festival is taking applications for individuals, organizations or businesses interested in being a part of event in the areas of:

• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002, P.O. Box 311, Johnston, SC 29832
• Parade: Parade: Jenny Herlong, (803) 480-2595, 607 Edisto Street, Johnston, SC, 29832

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Health Care, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, US Fibers, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, Herlong Ford, KJs Market, SRP Federal Credit Union, Creative Catering and First Citizens Bank, Johnston.

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival. The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and continued promotion of Johnston.

Charles Duke, a former astronaut who walked on the moon 51 years ago, is the Grand Marshal for the 39^th Annual Johnston, SC, Peach Blossom Festival.

The 87-year-old is one of only four living astronauts who have walked on the moon.

When Charles was 6 years old, his family lived in Charlotte, NC. During that time, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. In response, Charles’ father joined the Navy, and the family followed him to California. Later, he was sent overseas and that’s when Charles’ family came to his grandmother’s home in Johnston to live.

Charles lived in Johnston during 1943-44 before moving to Florida and later to Lancaster, SC, where Charles and his twin, Bill, were raised. 

As an adult, Charles decided to follow his father into the military and went to the U.S. Naval Academy. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an U.S. Air Force officer. 

He is an American former astronaut, U.S. Air Force officer, and a test pilot. As lunar module pilot of Apollo 16 in 1972, he became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon at age 36.

A 1957 graduate of U.S. Naval Academy, Mr. Duke served three years as a fighter pilot in West Germany. In April 1966, he was one of 19 men selected for NASA’s 5^th group of astronauts. In 1969, he was a member of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 10. He served as CAPCOM for Apollo 11, the first crewed landing on the moon.

Mr. Duke retired from NASA on January 1, 1976.

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival.  The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and continued promotion of Johnston.

Media Note: Charles Duke is holding a press conference to answer any media questions at 12:30 p.m., May 6, in the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Office, 416 Calhoun St., Johnston, SC. A public reception will be held immediately following the press conference. Media members interested in attending the press conference should contact Dean Campbell at pdeanc@bellsouth.net.