By AlaskaWatchman.com

In unanimous vote on Oct. 1, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly approved a resolution to install a permanent display of some of the most influential documents that have shaped America and Western civilization.

Introduced by Assemblyman Ron Bernier, the resolution directs the borough to erect a display of the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the United States Constitution, and the Preamble to the Alaska Constitution in the lobby of the borough’s main building in downtown Palmer.

Similar displays may also be installed in borough libraries.

“The Constitution of the United States is the highest law of the country and the Constitution of the State of Alaksa is the highest law of the State of Alaska,” a memo on the resolution states. “While there may be many influences and impacts of prior documents in the development and drafting of the constitutions of the US and Alaska, a few stand out.”

The display will be funded entirely by private donations with borough staffers organizing the fundraising effort.

According to the resolution, “…the intent of this display is to honor and recall the historic and influential nature of these documents” and “to remind everyone entering the [borough] Building of the societal bonds we all share and culminates with the wisdom of the words written by the founders of the United States and the State of Alaska.”

Click here to support Alaska Watchman reporting.

Mat-Su Assembly unanimously approves display of 10 Commandments other foundational docs

Joel Davidson
Joel is Editor-in-Chief of the Alaska Watchman. Joel is an award winning journalist and has been reporting for over 24 years, He is a proud father of 8 children, and lives in Palmer, Alaska.


25 Comments

  • Alagnak Estrada Bluffs says:

    Why restart this fight? They will be sued and will lose.

    • Toscano says:

      If they are sued and then lose, time to defy unconstitutional judicial decisions. Ignore them. Let the supposedly conservative Gov from the Mat-Su Valley dare to enforce them. His oath is to uphold the constitution, NOT to uphold judicial decisions. He is the “final filter”, not the courts, but he is too cowardly or doltish to act on that. The constitution does not say, “The constitution means whatever the supreme court says.”

      • Alagnak Estrada Bluffs says:

        The 10 Cs are part of a display honoring many of the founding documents, including the constitution. But you would dump the constitution and violate established law to install a Christian manifesto.

    • Lobo says:

      If an intruder breaks into your house for the second time, why not just remove your doors ?

    • Lobo says:

      No “swing, and miss”.. Same exact scenario as you suggested for the remedy… Just give up, and surrender.

    • Homeschoolers Told You says:

      Hmmm… “Christian Manifesto”??
      Actually, these are foundational in many societies and faiths and are natural law with ramifications to a society if they are forgotten.
      Love and obey God
      Don’t take his name in vain
      Don’t make false idols
      Respect you parents
      Don’t murder
      Don’t lie
      Don’t steal
      Don’t covet other people’s things
      Don’t cheat on your spouse
      Take a day of rest from work
      These are universal moral absolutes…
      These in NO way endorse any specific faith or church, thus not unconstitutional.
      Wierd these moral truths would bother you!!!

      • Pissed off tax payer says:

        Standing in Agreement! These brain washed people need to be reeducated!

      • liz says:

        Love and obey God? Which God are you referring to? Yours only I assume.

      • Homeschoolers Told You says:

        That is the thing. No one is forcing any god (or God). But believing in a higher power is fundemental to a free society. A atheist government makes the goverment god. I do beleive in Jesus, but that is my individual right. As long as your faith doesn’t infringe on natural law and others liberites, you can believe in any god you want.

      • Homeschoolers Told You says:

        That is the thing. No one is forcing any god (or God). But believing in a higher power is fundemental to a free society. A atheist government makes the goverment god. I do beleive in Jesus, but that is my individual right. As long as your faith doesn’t infringe on natural law and others liberites, you can believe in any god you want.

  • Ok in Anchorage says:

    Mat-Su, we love you!
    …Who’s gonna file the first lawsuit?
    And…what’s up with McCabe’s advertising? I’m sure it’s completely innocuous (because politicians specialize in that), but his new ad gives the impression that he’s endorsed by Trump and Begich or that they’re running as a conservative bloc. Are either of those true?

  • Neil DeWitt says:

    Thank you Mat-Su Bough representatives. This is the first smart thing I’ve heard in a long time. I have yo agree with OK in Anchorage but, How long will it be before the democrats file a law suit against this decision?

  • Elizabeth Henry says:

    Wow! That is very heartening! Most awesome!

  • Diana Graf says:

    Lawsuits be damned! The courage and conviction of these wonderful ones is to be saluted!
    Hang those beautiful documents high with big letters so all can see them.

    • Diana Ring says:

      Those documents are what we were founded on. They are part of our history. We must protect our rights to make visible those things that mean so much to do many. Why do people think our rights don’t matter. We must not ignore our history. We must stand up for America and our constitutional rights.

    • Alagnak Estrada Bluffs says:

      OK to break the law if you’re a Christian? Nothing scarier than Christian Nationalism.

  • Jacquelyn Goforth says:

    assembly member Hale amended to add the Law Code of Hamurabi, to go between the 10 Commandments and the Magna Carta, as another foundational historical fact.

  • CD says:

    CEO of First Liberty Institute, a legal firm, Kelly Shackleford said that the 10 Commandments can be posted in a public place because of one of the Supreme Court decisions within the last couple years. I think it might be the former Coach Joe Kennedy case. I saw the interview with Kelly, where he said that at the beginning of the year.

  • John says:

    Way to go!! We support it!!

  • Kathy says:

    Why wasn’t the Bill of Rights included?

  • CD says:

    Thank you, Mat Su Assembly. Way to live out your rights.

  • Ron dog says:

    We are placing the Bill of Rights in our Liberty, Law and Legacey project. The Borough web site has a link to donate to historical doucument display under the payment heading