People have been driving by and noticing the billboard. Others notice it and pull off the highway to take a closer look at the billboard.

This billboard, located adjacent to the Quality Plus gas station on U.S. Highway 264 near Pamlico Animal Hospital, carries a distinct message. This billboard is gaining support in the community.

The billboard’s words say: “Phil  Robertson for Director of Homeland Security A Christian Man with TRUE Christian Beliefs. The Christian PUSH Coalition.”

Wayne Woolard, owner of Wayne’s Tree Service and one of the sponsors of the billboard, believes the billboard provides a deeper message. He was joined Saturday under the billboard by about 20 others who support Robertson and the billboard’s message.

“Well, Phil Robertson, like it says, is a Christian man with true Christian beliefs. He had the testicular fortitude to stand up for what he believed in, which is, basically, equal rights for everybody,” Woolard said. “The way the liberal media twisted it around, it just kind of set in our craw. It was not a good thing as far as we were concerned. We just got together and put the billboard up to show that we supported him.”

Those under the billboard Saturday were dressed in camouflage clothing and were standing in a duck blind or on a replica of a patrol boat used on the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Robertson’s brother, Si, served on such a patrol boat during his service in Vietnam.

Robertson’s family is the focus of the popular “Duck Dynasty” show on the Arts & Entertainment network. Robertson created some controversy last year when his comments about homosexuality appeared in GQ magazine. In the magazine interview, Robertson, a devout Christian, was asked what he considers to be sinful. He replied, “Start with homosexuality and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”

Robertson was suspended from the show, but he was reinstated about a week later. Some people believe Robertson should not have been suspended, but others believe the suspension should have been longer, it not removing him permanently from the show.

Woolard and those behind the billboard believe Robertson was doing nothing more than exercising his right of free speech and expressing his beliefs.

“The Christian PUSH Coalition is any Christian, any Christian the pushes for doing the right thing and believing what you believe in,” Woolard said.

Woolard was pleased with the turnout Saturday.

“I think it’s great. I’ve had so many people comment about the billboard. I’ve had not one negative thing said about it. I’ll be in Lowe’s, be anywhere and people say, “My husband and I were riding by, we saw it, we turned around and came back, sitting on the side of the road for 10 minutes looking at it. We think it’s wonderful.’ I’ve had one electrician call me and tell me it needs to be lit and whatever it cost for parts to light it up, that he would do that for me,” Woolard said.