The county Board of Commissioners decided to display the nation's motto at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street and the 1995 Courthouse on Grove Street, though a few details and style decisions still need to be worked out.

At its meeting Wednesday morning, the board voted unanimously to erect 10-inch black metal letters on the brick facade of the Historic Courthouse, spelling the nation's motto “In God We Trust” underneath the circular window above “Henderson County.”

At the 1995 Courthouse, the motto will be placed above the main entrance fronting Grove Street, and County Manager Steve Wyatt said county staff will look at different options for the lettering, including colors such as dark bronze.

Commissioners will also look at placing the motto somewhere in the board's chambers, and staff will look at three or four different options, including the front and back walls of the room, Wyatt said.

Renderings of the lettering styles above the doors at the courthouses, and in multiple places inside the Board of Commissioners' meeting room, were presented at the meeting and can be found on the county's website, at www.hendersoncountync.org under "Commissioners" and then "Agendas."

The board floated a number of ideas for inside the meeting room, including adding the words above the projector screen behind where the commissioners sit during meetings and placing a state and national seal on paneling on the walls to balance with the current county seal.

The project will be funded by the U.S. Motto Action Committee, which first presented the idea of displaying the motto on county buildings at the board's Aug. 3 meeting.

“I agree with (Commissioner Grady) Hawkins, these words speak for themselves; they're on our currency,” said Commissioner Charlie Messer. “I think we can do this.”

Commissioner Bill Lapsley said the motto reflects the feelings of county residents at large, and that he felt keeping the motto inside the board's chambers would limit its reach.