Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Now Have Distinctive Car Tags in Alabama

MONTGOMERY – Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns now have distinctive car tags in Alabama that honor their service. Gov. Bob Riley unveiled the design of the tags at a ceremony July 21.

“No matter how much we do for our veterans, we can never thank them enough. These special license plates are a way for us to honor these veterans and also allow them to display the great pride they have in serving our country,” said Riley. “When Alabamians see one of these plates on a vehicle, I hope it will cause them to stop and reflect on how much our military men and women are sacrificing for us. We all need to remember them and their families in our prayers,” Riley added.

Admiral Clyde Marsh, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, and other military and government officials joined Riley in the unveiling ceremony.

“I know how much this day means to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who have done their time and completed their missions. I also know how much work went into the vision, initiative, planning and legislation that has brought us here today,” said Marsh, who in 2005 commanded coalition forces in Iraq.

The bill authorizing the special veterans’ tags was passed during the 2009 legislative session. The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Larry Dixon and in the House by Representatives Duwayne Bridges and Richard Laird.

“Speaking to veterans in the audience, Rep. Bridges said, “We enjoy our freedoms because of you. I thank you and I thank God for America and for Alabama.”

The distinctive license plates will become available to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans August 1.


Photo: Celebrating the new distinctive license plates are (left to right): Admiral Clyde Marsh, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs; Maj. Gen. James Barclay, Commanding General of Fort Rucker; Governor Bob Riley; Adjutant General A.C. Blalock; Maj. Gen. Maury Forsyth of Maxwell Air Force Base; and Representative Duwayne Bridges (back to camera). (Photo by Robin Cooper, Governor's Photographer)