Here is a resolution that was agreed upon. Please copy and send to your senators and representatives.

American Cold War Veterans, Inc.  www.americancoldwarvets.org

307 Preble St

South Portland, ME 04106   207-799-5491 email: jerterw@hotmail.com

 

                                                           June 18, 2011

COLD WAR SERVICE MEDAL

WHEREAS, millions of unrecognized American troops served overseas around the globe in waging and winning a clear-cut victory in the Cold War (1945-1991); and

WHEREAS, Cold War Veterans were in the forefront of the worldwide struggle to defeat international communism since its inception; and

WHEREAS, There were Cold War flashpoints recognized by the Army of Occupation Medal, China and offshore waters under the China Service Medal (1945-1957), as well as 17 distinct military actions (1958-1983) covered by the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and

WHEREAS, Many Americans lost their lives in hostile incidents with Soviets and their surrogates, Chinese, North Koreans and Cuban-supported insurgents along the Iron, Bamboo and Cactus Curtains (over and above the full-fledged wars in Korea and Vietnam) and other combat endeavors; and

WHEREAS, uncounted numbers of the United States military enforced the containment policy in inhospitable environments ranging from the shores of Greenland, the barren Aleutian islands, North Pacific skies, depths of the Arctic Ocean, Latin American jungles, as well as those countless numbers of members who served in CONUS, often in remote and isolated locations, to remote outposts stretching from Ethiopia to Pakistan, without official or public recognition; and

WHEREAS, The end of the Cold War brought freedom to many millions of people, and save countless lives with the end of the harsh and brutal rule of the totalitarian communist regime, thus bringing a peace dividend that cannot be calculated; and

WHEREAS, an all-encompassing precedent (Public Law 104-3) as has been set with the universal opening of membership to all veterans of Korea war service regardless of direct exposure to enemy attack; and

WHEREAS, as a matter of fairness and a means of rectifying a continuing injustice to Americans who performed arduous duty during the Cold War in most cases equal to that of combat, closing this gap in Cold War recognition, is the right thing to do for our veterans; and

WHEREAS, Congress has currently proposed two pieces of  legislation S.402 and H.R. 1968 that provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the armed forces who served honorably during the Cold War and assisted in its final successful outcome; and

WHEREAS, The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act 2012 includes a provision to authorize
the Secretary of Defense to authorize the issuance of a Cold War Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, This year 2011, marks the twentieth anniversary of the end of the Cold War and would be the perfect
time to recognize and honor these brave men and women, now; therefor

BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Cold War Veterans, that we support the federal legislation to award a Cold War Service Medal to veterans who were involved in that historical endeavor.