Bible verse will remain on Indiana fire truck

MARION, Ind. — A Bible verse painted on a Marion, Ind., fire truck will stay, despite a vocal minority’s demand that it be removed, the city’s mayor says. Mayor Wayne Seybold said he chose to allow the verse to remain because the inscription does not say it comes from the Bible and makes no reference to God. The city is about 60 miles north of Indianapolis.

The fire truck’s side contains part of the 23rd Psalm: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

Councilwoman Ann Secttor said in April that she objected to the verse being on the truck because she doesn’t think religion should be mixed with government. Seybold said he received numerous calls, e-mails and letters of support for keeping the verse. Marion Fire Chief Steve Gorrell said he and his firefighters chose the 23rd Psalm verse because it is “how the firefighters feel at 2 a.m. when they go into a structure fire.”