Sheriff Danny Diggs, of the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office in Virginia, took a remarkable stand this week for his own faith and for the principles and beliefs this nation was founded upon.
Using $1,480 out of pocket, Sheriff Diggs purchased decals for each of his patrol cars that feature our national motto, "In God We Trust," an action several other sheriffs across the nation have taken initiative to do. The support on Facebook for Diggs's action has been overwhelming; a few people have disliked the decision, which is to be expected, but the vast majority of commenters praise Diggs for his actions, saying that they are proud to live in York County and wish they had known so they could have donated towards the stickers, which are placed near the front of the cars, right next to our nation's flag.
Citing court cases and laws in his Facebook post, he states that what he did -- displaying the national motto -- was entirely constitutional. No court in the country has ever ruled that displaying the national motto anywhere is unconstitutional, and a law was passed in Virginia in 2001 allowing the display of the national motto on any government buildings and property. It would have even been within Diggs' rights to use taxpayer money for the decals, but he did not. He says that he did this because "God has blessed me and the Sheriff's Office. This is one way of honoring God by acknowledging Him for His blessings upon us and it shows our patriotism by displaying our national motto." Diggs chose to buy these decals as an act of thanks to God for his goodness in his life personally and in the sheriff's department as a whole.
The national motto is found everywhere from vanity license plates (of which I am a proud owner) to courtrooms, to public school classrooms. It finds its roots in the 1800s, around the time of the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received requests for God to be honored on the national currency. Chase declared in a letter that "no nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins." The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on coins in 1864 and was added to bills in the 1960s.
What Sheriff Danny Diggs did is very admirable in my book, and I am proud to say I live in his jurisdiction. If this motto does not offend people when it is on the money in their wallet, it should not offend them when it is on the front of our patrol cars.
God bless America, God bless York County, and God bless Sheriff Danny Diggs.
