Daily as I search the White House Briefing Room reports I am looking for a promise to be kept.
At least two time during the campaign, then Senator Obama confirmed he felt that a Cold War Victory Medal was needed Something that he was in favor of and more or less (it now seems less) said that he would back with great fervor.
One member of the American Cold War Veterans received a letter from Senator Obama which states his full favor.
"I agree that the Cold War Victory medal would be an appropriate honor. The Cold War was a period that required both skilled diplomacy and military readiness. For veterans who had to be prepared to fight a war that most people agreed would be catastrophic, there certainly should be some recognition of service and willingness to defend and go to battle for the United States. In each of the past two years, the Cold War Victory Medal has passed the House as part of its version of the annual defense authorization bill but has been stymied by influential members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. I certainly share your hope that this impasse can be broken soon.
Sincerely,Barack ObamaUnited States Senator.
As a group the American Cold War Veterans hope that the president will indeed support
such legislation as it appears in the 111th Congress.
We hae also heard rumors from various high placed officials who we will keep anonoymous, that
President Obama had plans to include a medal in his budget request to congress.
To date we have seen nothing that would lead us to believe that the White House will in fact
deliver on our hopes and quest. Of course we are not privy to all the dealings in Washington,
but it appears that once again Cold War Veterans will be left out completely once again.
A funeral in town was for a Cold War Veteran, with no military honors. That most likely is
that his family did not know that a veterans next of kin can request Military Honors" at a funeral. Or perhaps they did not want "rabbel rousers" or protestors to be present and demean the final rites of their beloved veteran.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 17th anniversary of the end of Communisim and the Cold War.
Wake up America! It was these brave, dedicated men and women who fought the containment
of Communism. These same veterans who laid their lives on the line to give you the freedom you now enjoy. The right to protest, the feedom of movement; to pratice the religion of your choice.
So please all citizens, members of other VSO's do not demean, look down and dismiss our
service to our country as meaning nothing. Do not tell us we are not veterans.
We did many of the same jobs as our military today is doing. They are issued the Global War
On Terrorism, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary, Iraq and Afghanistan and even the National Defense Service Medals.
What type of medal/ribbon did the Cold War Veteran who was not in Korea or Vienam receive?
Close your fist, as many fingers that are sticking up is how many millions received-NONE.
So please contact your elected officials tell them this should be the year to honor these brave
Cold War Veterans and bring equality to ALL veterans.
Jerald Terwilligr
National Vice Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
"We Remember"
DAMN RIGHT !
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