Now That Congress Is in Recess

The month of August is here, that means that Congress is in recess for the month; and everyone is back in their home state.

Now is the time to call the local office, closest to you, of your elected official. Ask for a meeting with said official. A chance to look them in the eye and present your case. Get your facts together first, then

put it on the table. 

Be polite, courteous and smile. Then discuss Veterans issues...VA problems, maybe your experience with VA; other general concerns about our Armed Forces and Veterans, our US Military and the budget crisis.

Then....ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2067 The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 and be sure to vote for passage when it reaches the floor for a vote.

Ask BOTH of your Senators to introduce an identical bill in the Senate. We need it on both sides to gain any traction. It is too late to have it included in the NDAA, so stand alone bills from the House and the Senate have to happen.

If anyone seems a little wishy-washy about it ASK THEM WHY NOT. 

Also ask for an investigation into the USS LIberty and the coverup. There has never been an official Congressional investigation into the murder of 34 Americans and wounding of another 174. 

An attack by the IDF (Israel Defense Force) on a clearly marked American

ship; practically unarmed,  with the purpose of killing all onboard and sinking the ship.

We as Cold War Veterans have been waiting since 1991 for recognition, it is time. The USS Liberty 

Veterans have been waiting since 1967 to get the truth, to finally know the why and the who.

DoD did have a very quick and brief investigation and called it a case of "mistaken identity."

The huge America Flag flying from the mast, and the big hull numbers on the side meant 

nothing to those who attacked the Liberty.

Write the letters, send the faxes, send the emails, make the phone calls, make the visits;  do it often.

Remember that you can visit or call the local office anytime. You can call the DC office and

ask to speak to their Veterans/Military aide and tell them what you want them to know.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus 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

Peace Cross Bladensburg, MD

The battle to save the Bladensburg Cross is still going on.

The Bladensburg Cross was dedicated in 1925 to honor 49 men from Prince George's County
that perished in WWI. The Memorial was funded by local residents and The American Legion.
It is now owned by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The Memorial is listed as a nomination on the National Register of Historic Places by the
Prince George's County Historic Preservation Committee in April 2015.  The Peace Cross
is listed as an Historic Place, but is not yet listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The American Humanist Association and three individuals filed a lawsuit in 2014 asking that
the Memorial be removed because of its implied religious nature as a Christian symbol, thus
violating their Constitutional rights. The Cross is located on property owned by the State
of Maryland; and the plaintiffs said it goes against the First Amendment.

A very brave woman Renee Green is spearheading the effort to save the Memorial. In an
interview she said "In order for people to make a decision, they had to know the history.
They have to understand it." Green went on to say "It's a WWI Memorial dedicated to the
49 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It represents peace."

In January 2015 Renee Green submitted another application for the Memorial Peace
Cross to be nominated to the National Register and it was accepted.

Although the Memorial's application has been accepted this does not stop the lawsuit, so
it will continue to drag out for some time.

More information can be found at www.savethepeacecross.com
There is also an official Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Peace-Cross/1539886132901090

Our Veterans should never have a Memorial or Monument that is dedicated to those who served
our country moved or violated in any manner. Those who served did so at the risk of
their lives, and so many did give their lives to protect our Nation.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus 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

Mt. Soledad Cross Memorial Saved

This should be an end to the long and costly fight to save the Mt. Soledad Cross.

The Mt. Soledad Memorial Association purchased the land where the Cross is located from
the Department of Defense to save the 43 foot cross that had been erected in 1954.

The battle began in the late 1980s, when the ACLU and the Jewish War Veterans sued to have
the cross removed; saying that it was against their constitutional rights. Claiming it violated the
separation of Church and State.

It is not proper that the Association should have been forced to purchase the land from the
government.

Preserving this monument which is a tribute to all fallen members of our Armed
Forces, which is part of a larger memorial with over 3,700 plaques honoring veterans of
various wars.

At a price of $1.4 million the land consists of one-half acre that surrounds the Cross it seems
like a very costly venture, but one that is well deserved to honor our fallen veterans.

California Representative Duncan Hunter and Senator Dianne Feinstein were instrumental
in writing and the passage of legislation that made this possible.

In a related attack on a memorial, in 2012 a court ruled that the Mohave Desert Cross owned
by the National Parks Service could be sold to the VFW. The VFW will maintain the Cross.

All our nation's veterans should hail this victory and the ensured safety of another Memorial
to our fallen brothers and sisters.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus,  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

Veteran's I.D. Card Update -Veterans Affairs

On July 20, 2015 President Obama signed into law H.R. 91 The Veteran's I.D. Card Act of 2015.

This directs the VA to issue an ID card to those who served honorably in the Armed Forces.

This is just for identification and to prove you are actually a veteran. It does not grant any VA benefits
or access to military bases.

For the many business and private enterprises that offer discounts to veterans and service members, most of whom require proof of service, this should make things easier. It will be a federal issued
ID, and you will no longer have to carry a copy of your DD-214.

The bill as written said that VA could begin to issue the card in 60 days. VA will have to make sure
that all plans are in place and they are ready to go. It might take a little longer than that

For some reason it appears that the VFW was against this idea, claiming it would further burden
the VA. The American Legion while not against the ID Card stated some of the same things as
the VFW.

There was also a member of the VA who spoke against the card in a Congressional meeting. So
that might make things a little more difficult.

To obtain the ID Card you will have to go to the VA with copy of your DD-214 and pay a small
fee, which has yet to be determined. So this makes it cost neutral to the government.

As more plans are finalized the VA should publish information on availability and procedures needed,
places to obtain this card.


---- Jerald Terwilliger 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