Veterans Pride

This post is a little late, but perhaps it will be seen and acted upon. 

In the past several years the Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a program "Veterans Pride".
This program encouraged veterans to wear their medals and ribbons on patriotic holidays, Veterans Day, in particular.

There was always a poster and handbills that could be printed and handed out in places where veterans
might pass and observe the poster. It was a wonderful way to remind all Veterans to be proud of their
service and to show their pride.

It seems that VA considered the Veterans Pride Initiative an old and outdated initiative and has deleted
it from their website.

The VA claims they still encourage veterans to wear their medals, they just do not want to show that
encouragement.

So this year there was no poster or handbill to be had. I personally last year printed several posters
to place in public establishments as a reminder.

Maybe the VA is trying to ignore some veterans. We as Cold Warriors know that Cold War Veterans
are often ignored, and have been told we are not "real veterans" if we did not serve in a "war period".

I believe the VA did not do all possible to recognize and honor ALL veterans, no matter of time served, or uniform worn. If you raised you hand, and wore the uniform you ARE a Veteran.

It is our hope that the VA will reconsider "Veterans Pride" and reinstate this initiative for next year. Not just a small spot on the VA website; but possibly even more government pages and perhaps even in
the national media.

I have to say that I was proud and happy to read so many reports of cities, towns, counties that celebrated Veterans Day in very large ways. I was even more happy to read of so many that were
dedicated to Cold War Veterans, who have been forgotten for far too long.

Now we are still fighting for a Cold War Service/Victory Medal. There are bills in Congress S.2743,
H.R. 4051 that would authorize a Cold War Service Medal. The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011, S.3454 contains a provision in SEC. 566 that would authorize the Cold War Medal.

Help us in our quest, contact your elected officials asking them to become cosponsors of the above listed bills. And ask that SEC. 566  remain intact in S.3454.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996