Senator Orr previews semisesquicentennial school-flag program and says governor’s budget includes small grants

Senator Orr told the Alabama Senate that flags will be distributed to schools that register online to become "semisesquicentennial schools," and he said the governor’s budget includes modest grants for cities, counties and schools to participate in next year’s statewide commemoration.

The senator described a program in which legislators would serve as couriers to deliver flags to schools in their districts that opt into the program. He said the program would include events across the state, with a larger kickoff scheduled at the American Village in Montevallo and other commemorations beginning in April. He described the grants as modest and intended to help localities and schools hold celebrations; the transcript did not specify exact grant amounts.

Details provided on the floor: Senator Orr said schools may sign up online and that some legislators could receive multiple flags to distribute in their districts. He said the governor included appropriations in the proposed budget to fund local grants through the commemoration commission. The senator noted that the American Village’s Independence Hall opening and other events would be part of the statewide observance.

What was not decided on the floor: The Senate did not vote on legislation related to the commemoration during this session; Senator Orr’s remarks were an informational floor announcement and did not enact policy.

Context: The remarks asked senators to be prepared to help local schools participate and to look for further information on the program’s website; the senator encouraged colleagues to be ‘‘good stewards’’ of flags they might receive to deliver to schools.