"In God We Trust" motto to be unveiled at May 19 County Commission meeting

(MIAMI-DADE COUNTY) – Five months after County Commissioners voted to display the words “In God We Trust” behind the Commission dais, the newly installed motto will be unveiled at the County Commission’s May 19 meeting.

The unveiling will take place at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chamber on the second floor of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st St. 

The traditional opening prayer that starts every Commission meeting will be conducted by special guest clergy. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Archdiocese of Miami, Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzki of the Chabad Jewish Center of Doral and Rev. Steve Alessi of the Metro Life Church will deliver the invocation.

“Displaying the national motto ‘In God We Trust’ recognizes the important role faith plays in our lives as citizens, and hopefully it will also serve to guide us in our decision making as lawmakers,” said Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who sponsored the legislation to install the national motto in the Commission Chamber.

The U.S. Congress first authorized the National Mint to include “In God We Trust” on coins in 1865 and mandated the words’ appearance on all national coins and currency in 1955. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law declaring “In God We Trust” the nation’s official motto, and the motto is inscribed above the Speaker’s rostrum in the U.S. House of Representatives and above the main door of the U.S. Senate Chamber. The Florida Legislature made “In God We Trust” the state’s official motto in 2006.