The office of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley will start giving an Alabama state flag to any state member of the armed forces who is serving in a combat zone and requests one.The statement by his spokeswoman comes after a story about the governor's office refusing the request of a soldier from Alabama who requested an Alabama flag to fly in Afghanistan, where he now is deployed.
"When Gov. Bentley first learned SFC Howard Blake's request had been denied, he ordered that an Alabama state flag be sent to him immediately. Gov. Bentley also ordered a change in the policy concerning the issuing of state flags," said Bentley spokeswoman Rebekah Mason.
In a written statement Mason said, "From this point forward, the governor's office will provide a state flag at the request of any Alabama service member serving in a combat zone."
Meanwhile, Democrats announced efforts to send flags to soldiers this morning. Former Supreme Court Justice Mark Kennedy has announced he will form the Alabama Flag Project and will be collecting money to buy flags and send them to troops. Also, members of the Alabama Senate and House Democratic Caucuses announced that they have formed a "Freedom Fund" to send flags to Alabama troops.