More Personalized Options
A bill that would allow people to personalize their “God Bless America” license plates is one step closer to becoming a law after its approval by a Senate committee April 2.
If the bill gets final approval, drivers can have their tags personalized for an additional $50, which will benefit the Alabama Veterans Living Legacy at Montevallo. The “God Bless America” plates cost the same as the “Stars Fell on Alabama” plates.
Rep. Jack Page, D-Gadsden, who introduced the bill in the House, said he is pleased with the bill’s success so far.
“I feel we’re very close to making this option available to the people of Alabama,” Page said. “Not to mention that the funds will go to a most worthy project.”
Page said Tom Walker, executive director of The American Village in Montevallo, has plans for a Veterans’ Living Legacy area.
The area would include a cemetery, reception area and chapel and is adjacent to The American Village.
Page said Walker also intends to have veterans record their experiences on audio tape, so visitors can listen to the veterans’ stories in the veterans’ own voices.
“It’s cool now, but should this modification to the God Bless America tag become law, it will be absolutely fabulous,” Page said. “As Tom Walker put it, it could easily become the Arlington of the South.”
Josh Trowell, a freshman in education, said he thinks the bill is good for both motorists and organizations that need some extra funding.
“It’s good that people can get their tags personalized,” Trowell said. “It’s another way to sell tags, and it’s another way to raise money for a program that otherwise wouldn’t get funded.”
Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, introduced the bill that made “God Bless America” tags an option in October 2006 and is a co-sponsor of Page’s bill.
Hurst said he, too, is pleased the bill has come so close to becoming law.
“I think it’s a great thing because we’ve had a lot of people requesting personalization,” Hurst said. “It just gives people another reason to buy the tag. Not just because it says God Bless America, but because they can have it personalized, too.”
Hurst said when he introduced the original “God Bless America” tag bill, there was no discussion about personalization. He said they decided to wait and see if Alabama citizens expressed a desire to personalize their tags and deal with it then.
When the desire was expressed, Page introduced his bill.
“It is my understanding that the ‘God Bless America’ tags have already sold over 1 million tags, and we think that is fantastic,” Hurst said. “I want to commend Rep. Page for bringing this bill to personalization and to raise money for the Veterans Living Legacy. They’re a great organization.”
The representatives look forward to continued success with the bill.
“Hopefully it will help build a lasting memorial to the brave men and women of Alabama who have fought and died to protect the freedoms of our country,” Page said.
