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Victory: “In God We Trust” Unveiled in Capitol Visitors Center
Posted by Randy | September 30, 2009

Yesterday, individuals across the country who were willing to stand up on behalf of our nation's religious heritage saw a major victory. After more than one year of fighting to restore references to our nation’s spiritual history stripped from the newly-constructed $621-million Capitol Visitor Center, the engraving of our national motto "In God We Trust" was unveiled in the Center.

 

 

 

When I along with several other Members of the Prayer Caucus first toured the newly constructed Capitol Visitor Center, we were troubled to learn that the Center was stripped of all references to America's religious heritage and it contained a number of factual inaccuracies, including incorrectly stating that our national motto was “E Pluribus Unum” and inaccurately representing Capitol church services.

 

In July 2008, I led 108 Members of Congress in signing a letter to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) expressing our concerns with the incomplete historical religious content in the Capitol Visitor Center. In October 2008, the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee agreed to correct the inaccuracy of “E Pluribus Unum,” engrave in stone in the Center “In God We Trust” and the Pledge of Allegiance, and create a permanent religious history display. We worked to ensure those changes were agreed to before legislation was passed directing the opening of the Capitol Visitor Center. H.R. 5159 was signed into law in October, and the Capitol Visitor Center opened in December 2008. H.Con.Res.131 passed the House and Senate in July 2009, directing the AOC to engrave the national motto and Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center.

 

The “In God We Trust” engraving was completed and unveiled this week and the Pledge of Allegiance is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks.

 

This was accomplished due to the efforts of so many individuals in Congress and across the country who were willing to stand up on behalf of our nation’s religious heritage. Thousands of visitors will walk through the center each day. The efforts of the individuals that have joined in this issue have enabled those visitors to experience a more accurate depiction of our nation’s heritage written in stone.

 

This win should serve as an example to Americans all across the country that because we believe, we stand, and because we stand, we can make a difference.

 

Read more about the Prayer Caucus, click here.

Comments
The opinions expressed below are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of this office.
  • LeRoy Lindahl commented on 10/2/2009
    Thank you very much.
  • Roseann Morgan commented on 10/3/2009
    Praise God! Thank you Congressman Forbes and all the others that stood with us in standing up on behalf of our nation's religious heritage! We must all continue to stand up for what we know is right in our hearts! We must persevere and never give up! Good will prevail over evil, with God's help! God bless you for your faith, integrity and excellent job representing our country and our people!
  • Minerva Johnson commented on 10/3/2009
    Thank you for your vigilance and persistence to guarantee accuracy in permament displays that denote our heratige and faith . You are to be commended.
  • Mary Crump commented on 10/3/2009
    Thank you for your efforts with the H.R.5159 and H.Con.Res.131. I am so glad that we have someone in Washington who will stand up for our country's religious beliefs and for what our country was founded on. You have made a difference for all of America.
  • Doris Hancock commented on 10/3/2009
    Thank you for your dedication in making sure that the visitor's center represents what this country was founded on. We must not forget! We must take a stand and preserve our religions freedoms. Virginia was foremost in the fight for religions freedom. Chesterfield County arrested baptist ministers who were charged for not having a licensed. They were held in the county jail. While in jail they preached from the windows of the jail to those followers who gathered outside. Patrick Henry worked for their release. We have a monument on the courthouse house green dedicated to these ministers. So many people were pursecuted in their struggle for religious freedom here, England and Europe. In some ways I think our troops are fighting a religious war. The Talaban still trying to take over the world even after so many years of fighting in Europe and the holy land. They beat the Templar Knights who were trying to protect christianity and the holy land. We must take a stand and protect our religious freedoms. We allow so many people from all over the world to practice their religious freedoms in the country as well. Are our troops the new Templar Knights?
  • Neal Christopher commented on 10/3/2009
    To all concerned I am thankful that The People and the Congressman and Senators stood toe to toe in this battle to not see Our Heritage that Our Forefathers fought for would not be taken away or removed from Our History. Maybe the ones that want Our Heritage changed and forgotten should consider another country to live in. Many Thanks
  • Susan Fee commented on 10/3/2009
    I am very thankful that the engraving, "In God we trust" and the "Pledge of Alligiance" is now in the visitor center in Washington. Thank you for all you have done to ensure this. As long as we are one nation under God, He will make a way for His people. America is God's country, and that is why it is free. Many have lived and died for the freedom we have come to enjoy. The President said, we are no longer a Christian country. To that I say, OH YES WE ARE! Speak for yourself Mr. President. We are still ONE NATION UNDER GOD!
  • Lori Hurd commented on 10/3/2009
    Thank you for noticing this and doing your part to make the changes!
  • Ken Pritchett commented on 10/4/2009
    This is wonderful Randy. Yhank you for your efforts to have this done. Now let's work to get prayer returned to schools, government meetings, public school sports venues, etc. as you are aware, our society has gone downhill as far as behavior is concerned since prayer was taken out of our schoolhouses.
  • randa pearson commented on 10/4/2009
    We will give thanks to God for your perseverance at our next Community Impact Committee meeting at our church.
  • Gary Hudgins commented on 10/4/2009
    I know that the far left, and the athiest, and all the other anti-american types want to remove any mention or even any hint of God from our culture, but, to remove every reference of our relious heritage from our history is down-right criminal. This is an attempt to, not just remove God, but to literally rewrite our history. It doesn't matter how much you love or hate God, and any mention of His name. He is part of our history and heritage. This needs to be stressed to them. Thank you for letting me sound off on this subject. And thank you for the outstanding job you're doing up there on the hill.
  • robert walters commented on 10/4/2009
    Congressman Forbes , keep up the good job, you have more supporters than you think , including my brother and others out in Washington state . We believe in Prayer and stand tall for the truth . We teach our children this too even though Prayer is not taught in Public schools . We really are fortunate to have a level-headed and practical representative as yourself in Congress . Most of us regular joes are so wrapped- up making our employers rich that we have little time for anything else . I still believe in SEMPER FI and DEVOTION TO HONOR, STRENGTH FROM COURAGE .... Bob Walters
  • Judith Florance commented on 10/4/2009
    Thanks to all in Congress who led the charge to make this happen.
  • Jonathan Inghram commented on 10/5/2009
    Well done. Thanks for your efforts.
  • R Foster commented on 10/5/2009
    No matter what "they" are trying to do to remove all references to our ALL Mighty GOD ,who allowed this great nation to come about in the first place, we will fight to try and get HIM back into our everyday life. When GOD was prayed to in school each day, when it was OK to pray at activities that were part of government, wheather a first grade class first thing each morning or a soldier in the middle of battle, this country was a great nation that was always moving forward. We turned our backs on our GOD and let the liberials, aclu and others strip us our rights until they were able to remove GOD from public events. Where has this country gone since then? The answer stright downhill. Crime is worse(no matter what the "stats" say), families are in peril, our ountry has lost respect in many parts of the world. Our president didnot actknowledge prayer day like others, but was quick to boost muslims last month at our capital. What is wrong with this picture? You be the judge. Wake up Ameerica and return our GOD to HIS rightful place in this country before it is too late. No nation has survived once it turned it's back on GOD. In the end they all fell. Pray people like you have never prayed before to ask GOD to save this country. It's not too late YET!
  • Barry Hobbs commented on 10/5/2009
    Thank you, Brother Randy, for all your efforts on behalf of the cause of Christ. Keep pressing on! You continue to be in our prayers.
  • Becky McDonough commented on 10/5/2009
    Great victory! Now on to defeating those who wish to take away our right to bear arms. Back to basics. Stay the course.
  • Evangeline Thomas commented on 10/7/2009
    When our country started, the church was in charge of the education of our children. When the church turned this responsibility over to the government, the morality of our country went downhill, now good christian people are questioning the sanity of some of our "lawmakers and judges", but you are the voice of sanity for us Mr. Forbes and we greatly appreciate you. Thank-you for reminding those who have forgotten and those who never knew, what Godly principles are. I am deeply saddened by the condition of our beautiful America. Truth is overlooked for the newest theory and passing fad. Will America have time to ask , where have all our children gone? I truly hope so.
  • C Strickland commented on 10/9/2009
    I just have to say something about the thought above saying that "...the far left, and the athiest, and all the other anti-american types want to remove any mention or even any hint of God from our culture.." I do consider myself left leaning and I am an Athiest, but this in no way makes me Anti-American. I think that it is pretty offensive to dismiss an entire group of people because our view of the world is different than yours. I was part of V Corps during the initial years of OIF and was there when our first American boots crossed into Iraq. I am an Athiest and I am a proud American. It is true that Christianity has been the majority religion from the founding of our country, but this country was founded on personal rights and choice. I do not think that our government should be promoting one religion over another. That is not what government is for. Religion should be taught at home, where the parents can inform and educate their children in ways they feel are correct. I do not have a right to influence what your children believe the same way that you do not have the right to influence what mine believe. Because of this, public institutions such as schools should be free of religion while focusing on what they are there to do...teach math, science, reading, etc.
  • Joseph Scanlan commented on 12/1/2009
    Congressman Forbes, Does "separation of church and state" mean anything, anything at all to you? The fact that you can't keep your religion out of your politics means you lack intellectual honesty (look it up). Public office would ideally require this quality to appear at least minimally in any candidate, but unfortunately it seems people don't as much care for the truth - the masses far prefer you, Congressman Forbes, a man who simultaneously justifies and confirms their religious belief system. I doubt if you'll ever read this, congressman. But if you ever do, please find yourself the definition of intellectual honesty, so that you might start to grasp and develop it.
  • Milt Fletcher Sr. commented on 12/17/2009
    Dear Congressman Forbes, Along with my heart felt appreciation and thanks to God for all you do for our Great Country. I humbly offer my thanks sir. Below you will find the note I attached to the e-mail I received from WallBuilders (http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=44141) concerning your efforts in keeping God’s Holy Name in our Capital and in the public square. As you continue to keep God first in your life sir you can be assured that God will keep you in the palm of His hand and no harm shall come to you. God Bless, Milt Fletcher Sr. Why is it we have allowed so many ungodly men and women to be in leadership positions in our Country? Is it because we have allowed the "politically correct" crowd to dictate policy for to long? We desperately need to change course and start once again electing God fearing men and women to office in our Country. How can we pray to God to bless a Nation of leaders that apparently for the majority don't even believe in the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord? I thank God for the few leaders we do have that aren't ashamed to stand up and call themselves Christians and fight to keep this "One Nation Under God", America the Beautiful. God Bless You and Have A Merry Christmas, milt The article below is well worth reading and the men worth being thanked for representing those of us that are thankful to have such a Loving God to watch over us as a Nation and as individuals. Thank you gentlemen for you service to the American people. My prayer is that you good folks pass this on to everyone you know and love. God Bless, Milt
  • model trains commented on 11/11/2010
    i'll be waiting to complete and unveiled pledge of allegiance..thanks for sharing,very informative indeed...
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