Workers from Island Home Granite, Signs, and Monuments install the first of four black granite “In God We Trust” signs over the entrances at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
CLINTON—Several setbacks put the project behind schedule on Monday, delaying the work for several hours, but by Monday evening, workers from a Knoxville company began installing the first of four black granite signs emblazoned with the national motto “In God We Trust” over the entrances at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
Plans had called for completing the work by Monday night, but it wasn’t clear if that would be possible. Among the setbacks were rain, a traffic jam, a hydraulic hose that popped off a hydraulic lift, and a drill that ran into rebar in the rock-solid courthouse walls.
Still, those who supported the project—with the work being done by Island Home Granite, Signs, and Monuments of Knoxville—were pleased to see it was under way.
“I think it’s about time,” said Lynn Byrge, owner of Active Electric in Oak Ridge. He spearheaded the project by contacting area preachers starting this past December, and Byrge and seven other people formed a “In God We Trust” committee made up of private citizens that raised $4,812 for the signs through private donations.
Byrge and the citizens’ committee have planned a 10 a.m. Tuesday ceremony, a public unveiling for the signs that is expected to feature three to four speakers and the family of Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates singing a patriotic song.
The Anderson County Commission approved the signs this spring after hours of discussion and five meetings.
On Monday, Buddy Mulkey, Island Home Granite owner, said the project includes two 7′ signs weighing about 180 pounds and two 5′, 4″ signs weighing about 120 pounds. The larger ones will be installed over the courthouse’s front doors on North Main Street and the smaller over the three-story building’s rear doors. The national motto is inscribed on the signs with 23-karat gold leaf lettering.
Mulkey and his two sons, Chris and Jeff, marked the holes to be drilled in the courthouse walls—described as a mix of concrete, marble, and rebar—with a yellow grease pencil. They planned to put in lead anchors and use epoxy on the bolts and on the back of the signs to attach them to the walls.
“I’m glad we’re getting it done,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said.
Much of the debate among commissioners and residents earlier this year focused on whether the signs should be posted at all and whether other mottos such as “E pluribus unum” and “Liberty and Justice for All†should also be included. Some opponents wanted to keep a strict separation between church and state. However, the proposals to allow other mottos, including four “clearly secular†slogans, were repeatedly rejected.
Frank has said there is room on the courthouse and in its hallways for other slogans.
A few commissioners raised concerns earlier this year about possible legal liability. Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager has said he thinks displaying the national motto on a county government building will be constitutional as long as it doesn’t violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and commissioners follow proper procedures and safeguards. Among other things, the signs have to be displayed for a secular purpose, can’t advance or inhibit religion, and can’t convey—to a reasonable viewer—a government endorsement of religion.
In March, Yeager said two groups have said they could challenge the signs, although he declined to name them.
Supporters cited the use of the phrase on U.S. money, on federal buildings in the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., and the frequent use of other phrases that reference God, including in the Pledge of Allegiance. They said the proposal was constitutional, and the motto, which they described as honoring the nation’s heritage, was recently inscribed on the Putnam County Courthouse in Cookeville.
Note: This story was updated at 10:15 p.m.
David Williamson says
The gods would be pleased if they existed. Unfortunately, we don’t all trust in gods.
Ck Kelsey says
God still trust in some ,but not as many as he could when the country was founded on his Word
David Williamson says
How do you know this, Ck?
Ck Kelsey says
To sustain the belief that there is no God, atheism has to demonstrate infinite knowledge, which is tantamount to saying, “I have infinite knowledge that there is no being in existence with infinite knowledge.”
Ravi Zacharias
Ck Kelsey says
Hey David, can science prove or disprove that there is a God?
David Williamson says
Science could provide evidence for gods if they existed.
Can you prove you are not a murderer Ck?
Dave Smith says
I can provide evidence that “david williamson” is an Internet troll, though there is scant evidence that he/she/they exist(s) in any tangible form.
johnhuotari says
It’s not always easy to tell, but I do my best to monitor the comments and ensure that people are following the guidelines. In this case, I think David has stuck to the issues and, with the possible exception of the last comment, hasn’t been personal or uncivil.
Ck Kelsey says
I was at one time,but there is a concept called repentance. Now can you prove that the wind doesn’t exist?
The simple answer to this question is no. Science is just one of the disciplines available for testing truth claims. Questions such as the existence or non-existence of God, the origins of the universe, or the meaning of everything we see around us are questions that bring together philosophical assumptions and statements that reach beyond any one discipline or piece of evidence. Broadly speaking, both theology and philosophy study the nature of reality and ultimate reality, while science investigates and tests the workings of the material universe. It is only in recent years that some scientists have attempted to claim
David Williamson says
So if you know that science could prove a god yet cannot disprove it, why did you ask the question?
Ck Kelsey says
Why do you ask ? Whatta ya mean whatta ya mean? It’s word salad for lunch today thanks to David LOL
David Williamson says
Are you surprised or disappointed that your assumption that Christianity was their target is absolutely wrong?
David Williamson says
You said god used to trust more people. How do you know this?
Bill Santagata says
The display of the national motto does not violate the Constitution.
David Williamson says
The National Motto is a violation of the Constitution.
Bill Santagata says
Several federal courts have ruled on this and they all disagree. The Supreme Court is highly unlikely to disagree. Ruling that a ceremonial reference to a generic Supreme Being is unconstitutional would go far beyond the purpose of the Establishment Clause and would have disastrous consequences, particularly requiring many longstanding monuments around the country to be edited (the Washington Square Arch, not far from me, comes immediately to mind).
David Williamson says
You are right about that…for now
Ck Kelsey says
Where did George Washington go right after the 1st inauguration? He went to a church for prayer in the capital at the time less than 1 block from a place that is now called “Ground Zero” .
http://www.theharbinger-jonathancahn.com/
David Williamson says
When Washington was president our National Motto was “From many, one” (E Pluribus Unum).
Today, presidents go to church BEFORE the inauguration? What’s your point?
Ck Kelsey says
What’s your ?
David Williamson says
How is the Washington Sq Arch A potential problem Bill?
Bill Santagata says
Inscribed on the monument is the very touching and noble quotation:
LET US RAISE A STANDARD TO WHICH THE WISE AND THE HONEST CAN REPAIR. THE EVENT IS IN THE HAND OF GOD. —WASHINGTON
Ck Kelsey says
Still isn’t !
Sam Hopwood says
Every now and then the wish’s of the majority prevail. I like that.
David Williamson says
As long as you are in the majority. And when did the majority vote on the National Motto anyway?
M Mahathy says
I’m not sure I favor the sign but I do not live in Anderson, so. I am not against them either.
I’m glad to see a lib actually wants to follow the COTUS even though it does not discuss religion at state level. Latter courts have added that interpretation. The 1st amdt deals with a federally mandated religion. No one is forced to believe not should they be. It is the national motto.
Mark Caldwell says
The signs appear to be billboards hawking some kind of service.
Shameless commerce; not religion.
Johnny Beck says
People wanted to put the signs up, asked for approval, and paid for them after getting approval. It is our official National Motto. If it weren’t, I doubt it would have been approved.
I don’t understand why there is so much controversy. It looks like more of the “I’m looking for reasons to be offended” stuff that so many people subscribe to. Is this stopping you from enjoying your life? Is it costing you anything? Will it affect your job, the availability of food for your family, your medical care, the air we breath, or anything else? Will it make you go to church even if you don’t want to? Will it magically install a bible in your hand?
If it costs the taxpayers anything, it will come from the purposefully-offended that complain and ask for lawsuits because they just can’t bear the thought of anyone seeing these darned signs on their courthouse.
It doesn’t violate the constitution either, that’s been argued in the courts numerous times. Look it up. And most of the quotes of the founding fathers used in comments here are being taken completely out of context by both sides.
Why does everybody want to be angry/insulted/offended?
Sam Hopwood says
Bullseye, Johnny!!
TJ Garland says
It is also a needed small victory against the Homosexual, baby-killing, socialists that are determined to run all our lives.
mary connolly says
Uncivil, homophobic attack on others.
An example of your idea of Christ-ian thinking?
Johnny Beck says
Guess I’ve missed out on how they’re trying to run my life. But I don’t feel like I’m missing out, so I won’t go looking for it, real or imagined.
Johnny Beck says
It was approved because it is our nation’s motto. The other things you referenced are irrelevant because they are not.
You are offended because you choose to see it as a christian God on the signs. There is no cross or bible on the signs, just as there is no cross or bible on money or anywhere else the motto is displayed. The ones who paid for it and got it approved see it as a christian God, but you are certainly free to see it as any god you please. It’s called free will, and our country was founded on it. But if you want to be offended, you are also free to be offended. It’s your right to choose how much happiness you have in your life, and how much anger.
This isn’t meant to be a critique of you. It just makes me sad to see so many people drawn into the organized and media-enhanced hate for no reason other than they are looking for reasons to be offended.