American Cold War Veterans Annual Convention 2013

Greetings American Cold War Veterans:

Our annual convention and membership meeting in Washington, DC April 30-May 1 Make your plans now to attend. Time is 

running out and the cutoff date to reserve a hotel room in April 5.

April 30 tentative plans: Tour the memorials and monuments in Washington and a tour of the US Navy Museum located in the Navy Yard. The museum has an excellent and extensive Cold War Wing.

Membership meeting on May 1 to be held in Room 122 of the Cannon House Office Building at Independence Ave. and First St. SE

from 1:00PM to 3:00PM.

You may want to attempt to contact you elected officials for a visit to their office while you are in town. If your Senator/Representative

is not available ask to talk to their veterans affairs staff member.

Our annual Memorial Service for Heroes of the Cold War will be held at Arlington National Cemetery from 4:00Pm to 5:00PM 

The hotel we will be using this year is
The Best Western Pentagon
2480 Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: 703-979-4400 Be sure to tell them you are with The American Cold War Veterans. To receive the group room rate.
Contact is Erica Simuel or Group Sales
additional phone: 703-682-5500 and ask for Erica. Fax: 703-682-2631 email:ejenkins@yourdchotels.com
Rooms are two double beds, If you require anything special
please make your request when booking room.

The cut off date is April 5, 2013 so make your reservation early. After the cutoff date reservations are based upon availability
and the price may change.

The rooms are available from April 29 to May 1 the cost is $129.00 plus 10 percent tax per night.
It might be possible to extend your stay for an additional night or two at the same group rate, again
please make your request when booking the room.

The hotel does have a free shuttle available, you will have to call the hotel direct in order to be picked up from the airport-Ronald
Regan Washington National (DCA).

If you plan to attend please advise myself or Frank Tims at ftims@aol.com

Regards,

Jerald Terwilliger

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former 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

Sequestration Has Arrived

Tonight at midnight, time has run out, Congress has run out of town, and the nation is facing Sequestration.

As promised the "do nothing" 112th Congress, with a carry over to the new 113th Congress allowed
the hard and bitter cuts to the budget take place.

These cuts will be felt far and wide, and if nothing is done quickly, for a very long time.

The drastic cuts of $85 billion to the budget with a very large amount $48 billion to the Department
of Defense, will cause serious and frightening consequences.

All of the service chiefs of staff and outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned many times
of the effects and creating a "hollow" military.

Already the Navy has cut back on planned maintenance of several major ships of the line, delayed
deployment of some ships, will cut back on training.

The Air Force has said they will cut back on training, delay purchases of equipment. The Army, Coast Guard and Marines Corps have all announced less training, less purchases of major equipment.

Plus all services have mentioned possible drastic cut backs in personnel.

Civilian jobs are also at risk, some employees being told they will be forced to take off one day
a week without pay; some through September. That means less time building our nations military
equipment.

How can this not effect our nation and our military. Our brave men and women of the Armed
Forces of the United States will be forced to do more with less and spend more time doing it.

If Congress does not correct this wrong very soon (and it is not yet too late) to fix the problem
how will we as a nation be properly armed and ready to defend our country.

It is well know that both Russia and China are rapidly building their armed forces, most notably
their naval and air forces.

We also have to consider North Korea, Iran, countries in Africa, the Middle East,  and
South America all looking to rattle their sabers and march their armies, anything to increase
their standing on the worlds stage.

Who will be brave and foolish enough to say, look America is getting weaker and their forces
are being stretched too thin. Now would be a good time to strike a little fear into what was once
the greatest and strongest nation in the world.

The new Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said that it will not be as bad as others have prophesied
that our military will remain the best and strongest. He suggests that after talking to all the service
chiefs that we will not lose a step, will not stumble.

Time will tell just how hard these budget cuts will affect America and every man woman and child
in our great nation. How long will we have to suffer what has been forced upon us, how deep
will we fall and how quickly?

Our country was just beginning to see the light at the end of the fiscal tunnel, there was a small
turn-around starting and the economy was on the mend.

 It was slight and slowly growing, now will the entire house of cards come crashing down? Will
it throw us back into recession? Can it be another great depression? We can only hope not.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Former 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