Montgomery, AL – Gov. Robert Bentley is intervening after his aides refused to send a state flag to an Alabama soldier who wants to display it while serving in Afghanistan.
The governor's office told the soldier it couldn't afford to give away flags, which cost as little as $11 on the Internet.
Bentley's office issued a statement later saying the governor didn't know about the policy, and the staff is now sending a flag to Army Sgt. 1st Class Howard J. Blake Jr. Bentley is also ordering a change in policy to let service members get free state flags if they're located in combat zones.
Bentley is a veteran, and he says the policy against sending flags to troops made no sense.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)