Sumter, S.C., Mayor Joseph T. McElveen Jr. speaks at the Fantasy of Lights event with Col. Clay Hall, 20th Fighter Wing commander, and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Smith, Tuomey Healthcare System Chaplaincy Service Department, in attendance at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, S.C., Dec. 1, 2013. McElveen welcomed attendees to the 26th annual event that featured the 34th annual Pilot Club’s floating Christmas tree. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Lakewood High School provide the posting of the colors during the Fantasy of Lights event at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, S.C., Dec. 1, 2013. The cadets helped make the event's opening ceremony complete as the national anthem played. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller/Released)

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Families take in the sights of the Fantasy of Lights at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, S.C., Dec. 1, 2013. More than one million lights make this event one of the largest light displays in the state. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller/Released)

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Light from the Fantasy of Lights event glows in all directions at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, S.C., Dec. 1, 2013. Over one million lights made this event one of the largest light displays in the state. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller/Released)

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Holiday lights on display

Published Dec. 3, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Frank W. Miller III
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The largest free light display in the state held its opening ceremony at Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter, S.C., Dec. 1.

Col. Clay Hall, 20th Fighter Wing commander, represented Shaw AFB in support of the city of Sumter's 26th annual Fantasy of Lights.

The event kicked off with Sumter Mayor Joseph McElveen Jr. giving a warm welcome to those in attendance.

Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Lakewood High School provided the posting of colors during the national anthem and the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Smith, Tuomey Healthcare System Chaplaincy Service Department, followed with an invocation.

The climax of the event was when Hall and his daughter turned on more than one million lights, simultaneously lighting the night air with 150 colorful holiday themes and familiar cartoon character figures.

The lights will remain up through the month of December.

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