History Lesson

Did you know that in Washington, D.C. there is some kind of law preventing buildings taller than the Washington Monument? At the very top of the Washington Monument is an aluminum cap, and inscribed on one side of the four sided cap are the words: "Laus Deo". Obviously you can't see these words since they're small and on the outside, and in fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there. These words are facing skyward, 555 feet 5.125 inches high, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, the capital of the United States of America.

 

Although these two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words are out of sight and out of mind, they've existed at the highest point of the city since 1888. Composed of four syllables of seven letters, Laus Deo is Latin for "Praise be to God". The Washington Monument in what some would argue is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world, is capped with a tribute to God, the Father of our nation. From the top of this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors take in the panoramic view of the city. From this vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant; a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north, the Jefferson Memorial to the south, the Capitol to the east, and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.

 

Yes, it's a cross; separation of church and state was not and is not in the Constitution. When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 one of the items deposited within it was a Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy; We are "One Nation, Under God", and sometimes it's difficult to remember that separation of church and state was not meant to remove religion from the everyday life of our country, or from the men and women we task with it's maintenance.

 

George Washington's prayer for America was "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."