New Jersey Cold War Medal Followup

I received information today that the New Jersey Legislature is still considering two bills that will authorize

a Cold War Medal.

In the Assembly is bill number A3828 and in the Senate is a mirror bill S2589. Both bills is currently sitting in

the Budget and Appropriations committees of both the Assembly and the Senate. The Assembly bill is also

in the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

I urge everyone who lives in New Jersey to contact their State Senators and Assembly persons and ask them

to cosponsor and forward the bills.

Or contact the chairpersons of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committees: in the Senate: Senator James Beach,

in the Assembly: Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker.

If we can add another state that will issue a Cold War Medal it just might help in our national push for recognition,

and a medal issued by the federal government.

One thing about the New Jersey bill, it would be for anyone who is living in New Jersey, or lived in New Jersey

at the beginning of the time of service. It would not be limited (at least at this time) to the guard or reserves.

This could be a big step in the process and a push in the correct direction. If we continue to attract attention

and garner local and state backing and support we just might be able to convince Congress and DoD that

the time has come to standby our veterans and finally say Thank You For Your Service

---- 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

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Texas Passes Cold War Medal, New Jersey Still Debating

Texas H.B. 402 was passed by the House on April 3, 2013 Yeas 147, Nays 0. The bill was passed by

the Senate on May 17, 2013 Yeas 31, Nays 0.

The bill will be effective Sept. 1, 2013.

So if you served in the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 29, 1991

can apply to the adjutant general's department. Veterans will have to pay the cost of the medal. At this time

there is no information available as to just what that cost will be.

So now Texas, Louisiana and Alaska have authorized a medal/ribbon for Cold War Service. 

Lets all keep contacting your elected officials, both state and federal to get this medal issued to all who served.

There is no further word on the state of New Jersey House Bill A-3828 and in the Senate an identical bill S2589 

New Jersey estimates that there are 122,000 Cold War Veterans and the cost would be
about 1.9 million dollars. That is a cost of $15.00 per medal and would require two additional staff members with salary of $35,000 each per year. The state does not expect that all veterans would apply and that not all who do apply would do so in the first year. 

So that cost would be spread over several years. 

That is exactly what we have been telling DoD, the costs would be spread over several years. Even the Congressional Budget Office has stated the same theme, it would not be an
all at once cost and would take several years to have the medal issued to all veterans.


---- 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