Adm. Marsh first to get new OIF?OEF car tags

the new car tags for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are now available.

Retired Read Adm. Clyde Mash is commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and today, he was the state's first Iraq veteran to purchase the special plate at the Autauga County Probate Office.

The plates became available statewide today.

“I am honored for the opportunity to commemorate this special day by displaying the first Iraq Veteran license plate,” said Marsh in a release. In 2005, he commanded some 44,000 coalition forces at the outset of the Iraq war. "This is a small, but well earned token benefit that epitomizes the pride and gratitude of Alabamians for the men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan in defense of freedom and democracy".

Active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces are eligible for the plates with proof of service in Iraq or Afghanistan, or who were deployed in direct support of military operations in both theaters.

Veterans applying for the commemorative tags will need a letter certifying their service from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. Current or former service members can request a certification letter by contacting their County Veterans Service Office.

More information on the Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran License Plates is available on the Internet at http://www.va.state.al.us/tags.htm.