20 Years Later, and Still Waiting for a Cold War Medal

20 years ago the Soviet Union collapsed, bringing and end to the Cold War.

It was a horrific era, 45 years long; with millions of people killed and injured. The Communist
rule was brutal and total, people living in fear and poverty; with no hope for anything better.

But beginning in 1990 an uprising began as the nations under the Soviet rule began to protest
and attempt to break away, and trying to find peace and freedom.

Slow and sure the search for truth and freedom spread throughout the Soviet Union, mass protests
in the satellite countries brought further dissent and disillusion with the ruling from the Kremlin.

The countries of the free world that had continued the long struggle to contain and defeat Communism,
with the loss of many lives, were justified at long last. One of the highlights of this was the fall of
the Berlin Wall on November 9th, 1989 and signified the beginning of the end.

Thus on Dec. 25, 1991 Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as ruler of the USSR declaring the office
extinct. All power was given to President Boris Yeltsin.

So the end of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and twenty years later Cold Warriors
are still waiting for recognition.

Just a small medal, and then a Cold War Memorial to be erected in our nation's capitol as a
way to remember and honor those who served with pride, honor and distinction to keep the
world free.

We will not give up until Cold War Veterans can say with pride: Yes I was there. There is still
a slight hope for this year, contact both of your Senators ask them to cosponsor S.402 The Cold
War Service Medal Act of 2011, and to have it brought to the full Senate floor for a vote.
Ask your Congressman/woman to cosponsor H.R. 1968, a sister bill with the same name; and
ask that it be brought to the full House floor for a vote.

We need your help to end our 20 year quest.

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