A group of Saluda residents continue to request that the city place the words “In God We Trust” on city hall. 

Archie Hardy has led the request by speaking at the last few commissioner meetings.

He has generated a petition requesting the words be placed on city hall that as of last week had 330 signatures.

Hardy spoke during Saluda’s July 11 meeting as well as Dotty Eargle and Beverly Hardy, all in favor of the city placing the wording on city hall.

Hardy said “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States and it was adopted as the nation’s motto in 1956 as an alternative to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782.

Hardy also said “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and on paper currency since 1957.

Eargle said she supports Archie Hardy on putting the wording on city hall. Eargle spoke in favor of the wording at previous meetings as well.

Beverly Hardy said the wording is “the backbone of this country.”

But James Hrynyshyn the wording is against the First Amendment.

“We really don’t need to revisit this issue again,” said Hrynyshyn. “It’s been settled.”

He said placing the wording on city hall would open the city up for lawsuits and he doesn’t want to see his tax dollars used that way.

Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden said no one is suing Polk County and nobody is suing anybody over the issue.

Polk County placed the wording on the Womack building earlier this year after an organization requested the county allow the wording. Saluda was approached by the same organization and voted earlier this year not to place the wording on city hall. Residents spoke against the wording being placed when the city decided and residents for the wording have been attending meetings and distributing petitions since Saluda voted against it.

Commissioners have not revisited the issue since they voted against the wording.