By Randall Murphree
June 8, 2001

(AgapePress) - Every public school classroom in one Mississippi county is now sporting a framed, red-white-and-blue copy of the national motto.

Prentiss County schools and Booneville City schools in northeast Mississippi believe they were first to post the national motto "In God We Trust" in all of their school rooms. The project was sponsored by Prentiss County American Family Association (PCAFA) after the Mississippi legislature passed a law requiring that "In God We Trust" be posted in all school rooms in the state. Booneville is the county seat of Prentiss County and together the two school systems put posters in about 365 rooms in nine schools.

"Churches joined in, there was local news coverage, and many individuals helped," says Charles Walden, PCAFA chairman. Initially, Walden personally put up money to purchase frames because PCAFA was eager to complete the project before schools dismissed for the summer.

Other Mississippi schools which got an early start on the project include Hattiesburg, DeSoto County and the state's coastal counties -- Jackson, Harrison and Hancock. Susanne Gann, director of public relations and marketing for Performance Tire and Wheel in Gulfport, is coordinating the project on the coast. She has ordered 5,800 posters and frames to blanket the three-county area, including all county and city school systems, plus private and Christian schools and college campuses.

"Churches and civic organizations have come forward to help," said Gann. She said the Republican Women's Club is also involved. Many volunteers will be helping frame and distribute the posters.

In Prentiss County, Walden and his family did the framing work in his appliance business in Booneville. "I had good help," said Walden. "Price and Mallory, a couple of my grandkids, helped clean the glass and frame the posters."

The group suggested that for a $5 contribution, PCAFA would place a poster in memory or in honor of a loved one. PCAFA then recognized the gift with an In Honor or In Memory seal on the back of the poster. Walden said a number of other school systems in the area have contacted him for advice or pointers on how to get the job done.

Rita McCarter, PCAFA member, commended school administrators for being open and cooperative to help complete the project quickly. She also praised area churches, pastors, and business people who took an active interest.

"Prentiss County has set the pace," said Dr. Don Wildmon, president of AFA national. "Now, we want to see this project completed in Mississippi and spreading to other states." PCAFA is a local affiliate of the American Family Association, which is coordinating distribution of the posters to schools in Mississippi.

Randall Murphree is Editor of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association. Information on the "In God We Trust" posters can be found on the AFA website, www.afa.net.

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