Painting with ‘In God We Trust’ will be displayed in Queen Creek community chambers

The Queen Creek Town Council has reached a consensus in displaying the motto “In God We Trust” in Community Chambers.

On June 3, the council voted 6-0 to approve displaying a painting with the motto on the wall behind the dais in the chambers. Mayor Julia Wheatley was absent from the meeting.

The town manager’s office and the communications and marketing team have been working with the QC Artist Guild since January to create a painting that would include the motto.

The painting features an American flag in a desert setting with the San Tan Mountains in the background. The town logo is placed on the top left of the painting, and on the top right, in script, is the phrase from the U.S. Constitution “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The motto “In God We Trust” is placed on the bottom left-hand side of the painting.

“What I see is wonderful. It captures the patriotism that I think was originally what we sought,” Council Member Jeff Brown said at the meeting. “It has all of the right verbiage on it and I’m just really excited to be able to vote yes this evening.”

On Jan. 21, the council voted 5-2 to approve placing the motto in the chambers but a location for it was not chosen. Brown and Council Member Robin Benning voted no.

There was to be no council action when a location was selected, but at the request of Wheatley and Brown, the question of location and final artwork was placed on the agenda for a vote.

Originally, it was proposed that the town seal would be placed alongside the motto on the front side of the dais. According to specifications in a staff report, using vinyl lettering, the motto would be 3.5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. An aluminum laminate would run 2.3 feet tall and 6-feet wide.

In the January meeting, Benning and Brown had voiced concerns that the size, location and the motto itself could possibly make some residents feel excluded.

“I was struggling, to be honest, with the focus on ‘In God We Trust,’ especially because I do think that we’re a community made up of believers and non-believers and there was a sense, at least from some people that I had spoken with, that this was too far into the weeds,” Benning said at the June 3 meeting. “I feel really strongly that this (painting) captures what Queen Creek is about and what our residents care about and it’s celebrating Americana in a way that’s much more comfortable than just an ‘In God We Trust’ strict, narrowly defined kind of text.”

This proposal was first presented to the council at the request of Vice Mayor Bryan McClure,

“I’m excited to ... display the national motto in our chambers and just really love what’s been put together and appreciate everyone’s support,” McClure said at the June 3 meeting.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law making “In God We Trust” the official motto of the nation, although the phrase first appeared on U.S. coins as early as 1864. The federal Act of July 11, 1965, directed that the motto be on all currency.

An Act of Congress in 1782 adopted E pluribus unum — Out of many, one — as the motto for the Seal of the United States and has been used on currency since 1795.

“As the council considers whether to display the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ within the Community Chambers, it is appropriate to approach the discussion with awareness of the relevant history and tradition,” according to a staff report. “This phrase has long appeared in official government settings, including on U.S. coins and currency, and is often seen as a reflection of historical custom.”

Such a display on the council dais would serve “as a visible symbol of moral values in public policy, ethical reflection and cultural tradition,” the staff report continued.

The painting will officially be unveiled at the June 17 council meeting in which an America 250 proclamation will be presented,

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.