McDowell to put 'In God We Trust' on buildings

MARION – McDowell County officials are joining a national movement of local governments putting the motto "In God We Trust" on public buildings.

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to put the phrase on two places on the county administration building, in their meeting room and on the county courthouse.

More than 460 local governments across the nation have the motto displayed, according to the group In God We Trust America.

The U.S. Motto Action Committee brought the idea to McDowell County. It told commissioners 37 cities and towns have displayed the motto in North Carolina, according to county board Chairman David Walker.

He said commissioners thought it was a great idea.

"Our board recognizes the fact that the nation's motto is 'In God We Trust,'" he said. "It's on our currency."

Congress, Walker said, confirmed the phrase as the national motto as recently as 2006.

He said staff is working on getting the motto on the buildings. He was not sure how long it would take.

The move by the county is legal, despite the religious reference in the phrase. The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled local governments could display the motto in a case based in Davidson County. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on that decision in 2005.

Even so, the American Civil Liberties Union in North Carolina said displaying the motto is a bad idea. Government buildings, the group said, should be inclusive to people of all beliefs.

"We find it very troubling that McDowell County commissioners are willing to risk alienating some people in the community in order to endorse the religious views of others," said ACLU attorney Carolyna Manrique.

Walker said the county is not trying to offend anyone. He disagrees with the ACLU.

"It's America. They've got the right to criticize and we're not going to try to silence them," he said. "It's a positive move."