It's clear that the Lehigh County, Pa., seal was adopted for a religious purpose. It was designed in 1944 by Commissioner Harry D. Hertzog, who later said, “In center of Shield appears the huge cross in canary-yellow signifying Christianity and the God-fearing people which are the foundation and backbone of our County.”

The Bladensburg Cross is obviously not part of a church so a casual observer might rightly wonder why it is there and conclude that it represents a Christian community. Historical markers would address that problem.