By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
March 26, 2013
RALEIGH — Eight years after the Christian Action League helped the Solders & Airmen Assistance Fund get an “In God We Trust” license plate approved in North Carolina, the specialty tag has a new and improved look.
“We had several designs for the new plate, but there was one important item that we did not change,” SAAF Director Dennis Roach told the Christian Action League. “We kept ‘In God We Trust’ on the plate and put the letters in a bold, bright yellow so it would really stand out. Our goal was to present a patriotic plate to the citizens of North Carolina that they would be proud to display on their vehicle.”
In addition to the U.S. motto, the plates feature the American bald eagle, a billowing American flag and the letters S and A for “Soldiers and Airmen.” Of the $30 annual fee for each plate, $20 goes to SAAF to help N.C. Army and Air Guard families.
“Back in 2005, the Christian Action League supported legislation for the ‘In God We Trust’ license plates. When the legislation passed, Rep. Connie Wilson (now former Rep. Wilson) asked if the League would help get the first 300 purchases of the plate to launch,” said Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League.
“We worked diligently to that end, and I personally bought the 300th plate, which incidentally is framed today in the CAL office — something for which we are both proud and thankful.”
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles requires orders for 300 plates before beginning production of a new tag.
Founded in 1991 during the first Gulf War, when Col. Aubrey McLellan, a longtime Guard member and chaplain, saw that families of deployed soldiers and airmen often needed financial help, SAAF was initially known as the Chaplain’s Fund. It is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has provided $1.2 million in financial assistance since 2004 to more than 1,200 families coping with unusual or unpreventable hardships.
“Just as we did eight years ago, we encourage folks across the state to purchase ‘In God We Trust’ specialty plates,” said Dr. Creech. “It is not only a great way to encourage and aid soldiers’ families while they are away defending our freedom, but it also emphasizes how important our Christian heritage is to our nation, a heritage that is under attack more than ever these days.”
To find out more about the In God We Trust plate, log on to http://www.saaf-nc.com/license-plate.html.