A valedictorian from a high school in Ohio defied his own school administration and the threats issued by an atheist group, leading his fellow graduates in reciting the Lord's Prayer, a 70-year-old tradition in the school, during the school's commencement exercise last May 22.
Class valedictorian Jonathan Montgomery took the podium and led in the recitation of the prayer by the graduates of East Liverpool High School in East Liverpool, Ohio. It was met by thunderous applause from the graduating class.
A ban on the prayer was earlier imposed by the school administration after the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter, saying that the Lord's Prayer promotes religion and violates the law. It asked that no religious song be performed during graduation ceremonies.
The school administration promptly heeded the request, citing the cost of court litigation if it dismisses the FFRF's demand.
"We said, 'Okay, we just won't do it anymore.' It was a decision made because we don't have a lot of money and we'd rather hire teachers than pay lawyers. It's a war we can't win," said Larry Walton, the school board president, according to CBN News.
Cami Post, vice president of the graduating class, said, "I know a lot of my student body was uncomfortable with it, just because it is tradition to have prayer at our school," according to WTOV 9.
Pastor Ohler of the Salineville Assembly of God said the idea of one or three persons saying they don't want prayer back in school or even singing or reciting it is sad.
Before the graduation ceremony, Post said the school was big in traditions and "I think it would've been nice to have the same as my brother had whenever he graduated."
The decision by the school to ban the Lord's Prayer was met with gloom. Choir director Lisa Ensinger appealed to the city school board to allow the song to be performed.
But Walton said it could cost the school thousands of dollars in litigation costs if it decides to fight any lawsuit.
"The Supreme Court says we can't do it," he said.
