4th of July

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July. Enjoyed the cookouts and did not get too much
sun.

I hope that all veterans wore their medals. I hope that everyone said thank you to any member of
the military that you saw. Watched the parades and saluted the Stars and Stripes as the flag passed
in front of you.

The fireworks were awesome as they lit up the sky across the country.

I must admit I was a little disappointed as I watched the Boston Pops celebration, which I watch
every year it is really thrilling and rousing. What disappointed me was that so many people
had to read the words to many of patriotic songs. Songs like God Bless America, My Country
Tis of Thee, I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy...etc.

Do the schools no longer teach music? Is the American public so uneducated that such simple songs are unknown?

Of course not everyone can remember all the words to some of these songs, but it seemed that a lot of people did not know any of the words.

And we wonder why the general public is so misinformed about the Cold War. Bomb shelters and
air raid drills, the threat of nuclear annihilation are forgotten. The world no longer remembers or
cares.

We were just a part of history that is being re-written. Now it seems that the government is even
trying to erase any mention of Cold War Veterans. It has been decided that after Vietnam, all
veterans are now considered "Pre-Gulf War Veterans".

No more Cold War it has vanished, how long will it take before all of the history books(those that
even mention the Cold War) are added to the trash bin along with all of our country's Cold War
Veterans.

We have been ignored, dishonored, disregarded and frowned upon for so long that now some of
us begin to believe it when told we are "not veterans"

All we want as "Cold Warriors" is a little respect, a little honor and a little medal.

The thought of a Cold War Medal seems to cause DOD a great deal of discomfort. Congress has tried many times in one or both houses to do justice to our veterans. It has yet to happen. 

Again this year we have some members of Congress standing tall and attempting to "get 'er done"

Please ask your Senators to become cosponsors of S. 402 The Cold War Service Medal Act 2011.
Ask your Representative to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1968 The Cold War Service Medal Act
2011. Ask them to vote for passage when the bills reach the Senate and House floors.

And ask all members of both the Senate and the House Armed Services Committees to
ensure that SEC. 581 of the Senate NDAA 2012 remain intact, and not be removed during the
Senate/House conference meetings.

Remember that this year 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the Cold War. We have waited
in vain for too long, let this be the year to remember these brave men and women.

Will the new Secretary of Defense finally agree to authorize this medal?

---------------- "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