Newest historical display goes up in Lee County

LEESBURG — Lee County has joined three other South Georgia seats of government where an historical display – including the Ten Commandments – has taken up residence in the county courthouse. At least nine other displays are now posted statewide in courthouses or related government buildings.

The display joins similar exhibits in Doughtery, Turner, and Worth counties.

The “Foundations of American Law and Government” display was presented to the Lee County Commissioners on Feb. 28 by First Baptist Church of Leesburg, where Bobby Harrell serves as pastor.

On July 1, 2006, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law H.B. 941 (http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/fulltext/hb941.htm) authorizing local governments to erect historical displays that include a copy of the Ten Commandments. “These displays pave the way for communities to further educate their citizens regarding historical facts about our country’s founding,” said Mike Griffin of Ten Commandments-GA.

The documents are made available through the ministry of Ten Commandments-GA, Inc. However, the organization has never given or placed displays in any government buildings. Instead, it serves as a resource for private citizens, churches, civic clubs, and organizations to purchase the documents and present them for approval to their local governing boards, commissions, and councils.

Ten Commandments-GA has designed the nine-piece historical display to legal specifications. The design may be viewed at http://www.thoushalt.org.

Griffin said many churches and associations are purchasing the documents – after gaining local government acceptance that they will be displayed – to expedite their usage. In that strategy no government funds are needed to purchase the display.

The display can be purchased by contacting Ten Commandments-GA on the web, calling (706) 856-2524, or by mail at Ten Commandments-GA, P.O. Box 941, Hartwell, GA 30643.