Ten Commandments Project Impacts Lives
"Man made thousands of laws. God made only 10. They should suffice. And if mankind would heed those 10, it would be a better world in which to live."
Those were the words of Judge E. J. Ruegemer when he was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1992. Ruegemer helped institute the F.O.E.'s Ten Commandments project in 1951 by overseeing distribution of 7,000 small prints of the Ten Commandments.
Project Expanded Nationally
F.O.E. took the project national in 1953 and within a year, another 10,000 prints were available. Distribution of thousands of prints continued through 1958 when the F.O.E. printed 250,000 copies of "On Eagle Wings," a 96-page book in comic format printed for the Boy Scouts and other youth programs. These books introduced a juvenile offender to the Ten Commandments during a fishing trip that changed his life.
After speaking with Cecil B. DeMille, who was directing the epic movie "The Ten Commandments," about this life-changing event, the Eagles and Ruegemer began placing large granite monoliths of the Ten Commandments in public places across America. The monoliths were gifts intended as permanent, practical reminders and encouragement for the country's young people.
Eagles Battle Opposition
Between 1955 and 1985, more than 150 monoliths were dedicated in 34 states and Canada. Beginning in 1958, however, these markers began being moved, removed or destroyed as a result of lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and others who claimed the monoliths offended them by their appearance on public property.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist stated the Ten Commandments "have an undeniable historical meaning" that in no way trespasses on the separation of church and state.
The Eagles battled various lawsuits and were rewarded in 2005 when a decision was issued by the United States Supreme Court allowing the Ten Commandments monolith to remain on the grounds of the Austin, Texas state capitol.
This ruling was a great victory for the principles and ideals upon which the United States of America and the Fraternal Order of Eagles were founded. It also strengthened the foundation for the Eagles to continue this influential program.