Former Gov. Don Siegelman and a top aide to ex-Gov. Bob Riley said Wednesday their administrations often gave state flags to Alabama troops overseas, disputing Gov. Robert Bentley's claims that he inherited a policy against the practice.
But Bentley's staff released records that showed Riley's office refused at least one and possibly two flag requests by Alabama troops stationed in a combat zone, plus three other requests for flags over a five-year period.
The state's practice of giving flags to troops overseas became an issue following reports that Bentley's office initially refused to give a flag to Army Sgt. 1st Class Howard J. Blake Jr., who is serving in Afghanistan, because of a long-standing state policy. Bentley called the policy "stupid" and said he would reverse it; the flag is now on the way to Blake's Afghan base.
Siegelman — who left office in January 2003, after the United States invaded Afghanistan but before the war in Iraq — told The Associated Press his administration provided lots of flags to troops.
"We gave flags to any member of the armed forces of the U.S.," Siegelman wrote in an email. Mike Sumrall, who served as head of the Alabama National Guard under Siegelman, said he didn't recall any cases of individuals asking for flags but recalled Guard departure ceremonies in which entire units were given Alabama flags.
"The first time I ever went to Baghdad I saw an Alabama flag between the runways. It meant a lot," said the former adjutant general, who is now retired from the military and working in private industry.
Sandra Lucas, who held two top posts under Riley, said the governor's office continued giving flags to departing units when requested by members of the unit or a relative of a Guard member. Lucas said the office also fulfilled some requests by Alabamians seeking flags for troops based overseas, but she didn't recall the exact number.
"It just never was a problem," said Lucas, who served as director of constituent services and deputy chief of staff for Riley.
Documents released to AP under Alabama's open records law show Riley's office turned down five requests for flags from August 2004 through November 2008.
In 2007, Riley's staff refused a flag for an Alabama resident who wrote that he was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and wanted a state banner. Lucas said that refusal was likely a mistake.
"He probably should have gotten a flag," said Lucas, now with the Alabama National Guard.
The office also refused a flag for a Navy seaman in 2008, but his status and location wasn't clear in the records.
The three other refusals by Riley's office weren't for Alabama troops stationed overseas.
In 2004, an Alabama soldier stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., asked for a state flag and received a response written on behalf of Riley stating: "Unfortunately I am not able to provide you with a flag due to budget constraints." Records show the office also refused to send flags to a Georgia Marine mom who was seeking flags from all states for troops and a naval unit that wanted state flags to hang in a building in Illinois.
Bentley aides say the governor's office will now send a free flag to any deployed service member from Alabama who asks for one. It's unclear what the new policy will cost, but state flags cost as little as $11 on websites.
The state continues to provide departing Guard units with Alabama flags, which are presented during deployment ceremonies.
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