HELEN – Helen City Hall has joined public buildings in about 50 other Georgia counties displaying The Ten Commandments and other historical documents.
The Foundations of American Law and Government Display includes The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, The Preamble of the Georgia Constitution, Lady Justice, The Magna-Carta, The Mayflower Compact, National Motto, The Star Spangled Banner, and The Ten Commandments.
“I’m glad to see us here today dedicating these documents,’ said Helen City Manager Jerry Elkins.
Henry and Pat Garner, who serve on the board of Hartwell-based Ten Commandments Georgia, joined Executive Director Dr. Tom Rush, the Helen City Commission, local residents and city employees for the dedication ceremony at Helen City Hall.
“We’ve never had the hanging of the documents or the purchase of them in an easier situation than this,” said Henry Garner. “Pat and I didn’t have to do anything. We normally have to go out and raise money.”
In Helen’s case, Elkins learned of the organization and that Georgia law allows the display in public buildings.
The suggested donation for the documents display meetings the requirements prescribed by state law is $1,195.
“I talked to a few people and once I sent out an email concerning these documents, within two hours I was turning down money because we had raised more than we needed for the documents, so that’s pretty outstanding,” Elkins said.
Garner said the Helen display became reality in record time.
“Sometimes in some of the places it takes six months,” Garner said.
The nine-piece historical display consists of 18-by-24-inch wooden frames that are in accordance with the specifications of Georgia’s law.
Rush encouraged those present for the dedication to take time to read the documents.
“They all mention the Judeo-Christian foundation of our nation,” Rush said.
Rush said the organization began when the ACLU and Freedom from Religion Foundation and others sued to force the removal of The Ten Commandments from courthouses in the state.
The organization worked with the Georgia Legislature to ensure passage of a law that would allow display of the documents in a historical context.
“It has to be that exact display,” Rush said. “The law is very specific.”
Later, the law was modified allowing the display to go up in any public building in the state.
“You can display these documents without fear of one of those groups suing the city,” Rush said. “Because it’s state law, if a lawsuit were to be brought, then the attorney general of Georgia would be the one to have to go and fight it, and Georgia’s money would be used. They’re simply not going to do that because it would be a waste of time for them.”
In North Georgia, at least one government building each in Habersham, White, Hart, Madison and Barrow County includes the historical documents display.
“Our goal now is to get these documents displayed in every county in Georgia,” Price said. “We’re right at 50 counties now and growing, so if you know of people in other counties that have influence at the county commission, the city commission, in the school system, please let Henry and Pat know. We’ll find somebody in that county to work with them to help make this display happen.”
Founded by Congressman Jody Hice, “Ten Commandments-Georgia Inc., is a nonprofit organization committed to the task of locating, educating, and motivating citizens to acknowledge God through knowing, obeying, and displaying the Ten Commandments, thereby restoring a common moral code based upon God’s laws and the founding philosophy of our country,” according to tencommanmentsga.org.
Rush and the Garners, along with Pastor Jim Holmes of Helen First Baptist Church, who formerly served on the board of the organization, said The Ten Commandments and other historical documents set forth a code of conduct for people.
“Our goal is that through this education of people about The Ten Commandments and these other documents is that we would restore a moral code in our state,” Rush said. “We believe that through The Ten Commandments restoring that moral code would make our families happier, our neighborhoods safer, and our government more just.”
