Dear John,

Last week, during a city council meeting in Haven, Kansas, council members voted on removing the "In God We Trust" decals from police vehicles. Council Member Sandra Williams introduced the measure by emphasizing that she did not think the police department was the proper forum to be talking about God.

After a brief discussion, Williams made a motion to remove the "In God We Trust" decals from the police vehicles, as well as delete all Bible verses from the police department's Facebook page. Another council member seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Mayor Adam Wright has since announced that the decals and quotes will be removed by early next week.

The city council is meeting again next week on May 16. Sign the petition urging them not to remove “In God We Trust” or the Bible verses.

Earlier this week on "Washington Watch," FRC Action President Tony Perkins addressed the controversy. "The Haven City Council has said that this was an issue of separation of church and state. But this is the nation's motto." Across the country, approximately 250 law enforcement offices have "In God We Trust" displayed on their vehicles.

During the Civil War, Secretary of State Salmon P. Chase wrote a letter to Reverend Watkinson declaring, "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."

In 1864, "In God We Trust" first appeared on a two cent coin. The U.S. Department of Treasury reports that this decision reflected the increased emphasis on faith as a result of the conflict.

In 1956, Congress passed a bill mandating that the phrase be printed on every denomination of U.S. paper currency. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also signed into law a bill establishing "In God We Trust" as the national motto.

Sign the petition below urging the city council not to remove this national motto.