Man Asks Franklin County Commission to Add Creed to Start of Weekly Meetings

A Franklin County citizen asked county commissioners to add another step to the start of their weekly public meetings.

Eric Reichert, Villa Ridge, asked the commission to consider adopting a recitation of the American’s Creed.

The creed was written by William Tyler Page, former clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, in 1917 and adopted as the official national creed by the House in 1918. It is sometimes a part of naturalization ceremonies.

Reichert read the creed aloud.

The creed reads:

“I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

Presiding Commissioner John Griesheimer said he wasn’t interested in expanding the commission’s pre-meeting routine.

“I’m perfectly comfortable with where we are right now,” Griesheimer said.

The county currently begins meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and, beginning in August, will add an invocation from a member of the public.

After the meeting, Reichert expressed frustration over Griesheimer’s comments, stating that he had to petition the county to have his request put on the commission’s agenda, but there was no discussion on the matter.