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

Congess asking about problems at Arlington

On Thursday they House of Representatives passed a bill that will require the Secretary of the Army
to provide Congress a full accounting of all 320,000 graves in Arlington National Cemetery. The Senate had already passed the legislation.

Following several scandals at Arlington, including unmarked or mislabeled graves in three of the seventy sections. It was also shown that at least four burial urns were dug up and dumped in a pile of dirt. More problems were uncovered including eight cremated remains that were placed in one grave.

The bill would also require a complete review of the contracts issued to digitize the paper records
of the cemetery. It would also conduct a study to determine if the authority and running of the cemetery should remain with the Army or turned over to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senator Claire McKasill (MO) said  that the bill "will provide the congressional oversight we need
to ensure we fix any errors as quickly as possible."

Now that Congress has acted swiftly, we can only hope that the followup investigation is done as
swiftly, and as correctly as possible.

Our heroes deserve the proper recognition and honor and respect of our country. They gave their
all in our defense, now let us defend them.

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

Wreaths for National Cemeteries (Wreaths Across America)

Every year since 1992 the Worcester Wreath Company located in Harrington, Maine has been donating and sending to Arlington National Cemetery over 5000 Balsam Christmas Wreaths each with a hand tied red ribbon. This takes place annually on the second Saturday of December.

This project has been gaining in popularity every year, and more cemeteries have asked if they could be included. Civil Air Patrol Squadrons and other thousands of volunteers donate their time to place wreaths on the graves of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is just one way to honor and remember those who protected our country and fought to maintain the freedom we cherish.

It has now become Wreathes Across America, a non-profit organization to further promote Veterans remembrance, the missions goals are Remember, Honor, and Teach.

In 2008 at more than 300 locations over 100,000 Christmas wreaths were placed on veterans graves by more than 60,000 volunteers.

This year the ceremony will take place on December 11 at 12:00 PM EST. It is asked that everyone observe a moment of silence at that time to pause and remember and honor all branches of our military.

Each year the Patriot Guard Riders escort the tractor trailers loaded with wreaths from Main to Arlington, they are joined along the way by other motorcycle and automotive groups. This year plans
are for between 50 to 300 vehicles as they travel along Route 1 from Maine to DC. Known as "Veterans Honor Parade."

For more information or to learn how to donate and or participate please visit the Worcester Wreath website at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

Please consider helping this worthy cause, and help it to grow even larger and more memorable. Our fallen heroes deserve  respect, remembrance and honor from every living American.

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