By Marilyn Forbes

Published: Saturday, November 17, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Saturday, November 17, 2012

Ten Commandments yard signs are becoming a common site in the Connellsville area, and members of Thou Shalt Not Move couldn't be more pleased.

The group is receiving partial proceeds from the sale of the signs to purchase granite Ten Commandments monuments, which will be displayed by area churches wanting the structures on their properties.

Thou Shalt Not Move was formed in September, when the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit against the Connellsville Area School District because a decades-old Ten Commandments monument was on the grounds of Connellsville Junior High School.

Group speaker Ewing Marietta, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in North Union said he is thrilled with the response from the sale of the signs.

“If you would have told me back when we started at the end of September: ‘Pastor, we are going to sell 2,500 signs,' I would have laughed at you,” Marietta said.

The sale of the signs has generated about $7,500 — enough to purchase several of the 3-foot-by-6-foot granite monuments.

Several churches already have showed interest in displaying the monuments. Marietta said he wants area churches getting the first opportunity.

“We want to give the local churches the first chance, then we will go to neighboring areas,” Marietta said, adding that the only cost to the churches that purchase a monument is $144.

Additional signs and T-shirts are being printed.

Marietta said many local businesses are sold out.

“I think that this area is saturated,” Marietta said. “I'm going to start to go to other areas and into Ohio and West Virginia.”

He said the group's mission is to emphasize the Ten Commandments' significance in history.

“This is a great opportunity to teach our children that the Ten Commandments are of great historical significance to our country,” Marietta said.

Group members said the fight to keep the Ten Commandments has branched out in other ways — not only bringing awareness about the monument but also educating the community about the Ten Commandments.

“We can be thankful that we are fighting this battle,” Susie Tabaj of Dunbar said. “We are helping to open people's eyes as to what the Ten Commandments are all about.”

The group plans to sell more yard signs to promote the project.

Signs are available for $10 each at Resh's grocery in Indian Head; West Side Jewelry, West Side News and Ghost's Floor Store in Connellsville; Miller's Grocery in Normalville; Colorama Religious Supplies in Uniontown; and Brady's Restaurant near Donegal.

Thou Shalt Not Move also is seeking people to participate as walkers on Saturday for the New Kensington Christmas Parade.

“We have to keep getting the word out,” Marietta said, adding that he hopes to soon see some of the new granite monuments at area churches.

“I am really looking forward to seeing the first couple monuments get placed. In fact, I look forward to seeing them all get placed,” he said.

The group's next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Connellsville Eagles.

Marilyn Forbes is a freelance writer.

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