A Georgia Sheriff is defending the controversial sign he posted outside his Harris County offices warning people that if they don’t like traditional phrases such as “Merry Christmas” or “In god We Trust,” then they should leave the county.

Sheriff Mike Jolley posted the “warning” sign underneath a sign welcoming people to the county that sits outside the sheriff’s offices in Hamilton, Georgia.

The sign reads: “WARNING: Harris County is politically incorrect. We say: Merry Christmas, God Bless America, and in God We Trust. We salute our troops and our flag. If this offends you… LEAVE!”

Sheriff Jolley also took pains to report that he paid for the sign out of his own pocket so as to avoid being accused of spending county funds on the display.

The sheriff is defending his sign, saying that not enough people today are speaking up in support of traditional American values. He called those who support traditional values a “silent majority” in America.

“I spent 20 years in the army to give everyone the right not to agree with it, and voice their opinion if they’re not and that’s fine. But after being the sheriff of Harris County for 23 years, I believe that the vast majority of my citizens here in Harris County agree with what’s on that sign,” Sheriff Jolley told CBS affiliate WRBL.

Sheriff Jolley also told the media that since he put up the sign he has gotten plenty of support on social media. He also said several local residents have donated money to him to help defray the money he spent creating the sign.

The owners of the sign shop that created the sign also noted that they are surprised by the wide notice their creation got in the media.

“We never thought it would get so much attention,” said sign shop manager Genny. “There has been plenty of heated debate on our Facebook page and we were surprised at all of the attention it is getting”

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com