Cold War Service Medal and DOD

The two bills S.402 and H.R. 1968 both authorize a Cold War Service Medal,
there is also a provision SEC. 581 that authorizes the Cold War Service
Medal.
 
The Department of Defense has objected to the medal. They claim 
"duplication of awards" this fallacy begs the question of why millions of 
men and women completed the enlistments without receiving any type of 
medal or award.
 
DOD also claims that the cost factor would be $440 million based on
35 million veterans. It would in fact take several years for everyone
that would be eligible would actually apply.
 
DOD also once again brags about the Cold War Certificate, which makes
no mention of military service. In fact anyone who worked for the 
government is eligible for this certificate, and yet as of late 2009 only 
a little of 2 million had applied in the 7 years of its existence.
 
President Obama at least twice during his campaign stated that he thought
that the Cold War Medal should be issued . 
 
Please try to persuade DOD to change their stand on this issue. It is
time to recognize, remember and honor these brave men and women.
 
President Obama would you please use an executive order to create this
medal should the legislation fail to be passed.
 
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing any thoughts and comments
you might have on this important issue.
 
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