Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley-Give Veterans the Day OFF on Veterans Day

Congressman Braley appears to be a Veteran Friendly member of Congress, and a member of the
House Veterans Affairs Committee. This is someone we should all target as a possible ally in the quest
for our Cold War Service Medal.

I ask that everyone contact him and ask for his support. Possibly even to introduce legislation to
authorize the Cold War Service Medal.
http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/01/20/braley-proposes-making-veterans-day-a-holiday-for-veterans/

Braley proposes making Veterans Day a holiday for veterans

by Pat Curtis on January 20, 2011

in Military,Politics & Government

Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley was confirmed Wednesday as a new member of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the 112th Congress. The Democrat from Waterloo quickly proposed legislation to make Veterans Day a holiday for all vets.

Braley says the bill is modeled after a law that already exists in Iowa. “It makes sure brave men and women who have served our nation are able to take Veterans Day off,” Braley said. Veterans Day is currently designated as a federal holiday, but private employers can choose to ignore it. Braley’s proposal would require private employers to give any employee who is a veteran a day off on Veterans Day.

“I’ll be working with members on both sides of the aisle to get cosponsors for my bill and hopefully move it through the Veterans Committee as soon as possible,” Braley said. The bill includes exceptions for small businesses, cases where public health or safety are concerned, or where the holiday would significantly disrupt operations.

Braley says the employer would decide if the day off should be a paid or unpaid holiday.

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

DoD to Trim General and Flag Officers

The Department of Defense will trim it's senior ranks and freeze civilian staff levels.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said "The monetary savings from reductions in senior
personnel will be relatively modest, and mostly consist of the extra staff and amenities that,
by tradition, follow high rank."

"The primary purpose of reducing senior rank structure is to create fewer, flatter, more
agile-and thus more effective organizations," Gates said.

In August Gates said he would appoint a task force to asses the number of positions for general
and flag officers. As a result of that report the department will eliminate more than 100 of the
900 positions it now authorizes.

"Of those 28 billets that were created after 9/11, primarily for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan," Gates said. "They will be reduced as appropriate, as major troop deployments
wind down."

More than 80 general-officer of flag positions spread among the services, the Department
of Defense and the combatant commands "will be eliminated or downgraded," Gates said.

As DoD trims is senior staff, it will also freeze overall staff employees at the current
level for the next three years.

"The resulting review produced a number of opportunities to trim the size of the work force,
yielding more than $4 billion in savings over the next five years," he said "I will
recommend to the president that we hold to these limits in overall DOD staff levels
for the next three years."

I say a savings of $4 billion over 5 years would be more than enough to pay for a Cold
War Service Medal, which has been estimated to cost $25 million over ten years.

It is a medal that has been delayed and dismissed for too many years.

Recognize and honor our Cold War Veterans now.

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

A letter to elected officials

I sent this letter to my elected officials. Please feel free to use this to send to both of your senators
and your representative.


Rep. Chellie Pingree
Sen. Olympia Snowe
Sen. Susan Collins

January 1, 2011

I am contacting you today with a sadness in my heart.

Congress has once again turned its back on millions of American Veterans.
Most notably the Cold War Veterans, those who served with honor and distinction from Sept. 1945 to Dec. 1991.

While we were very pleased and hopeful to note that S.2743 and H.R. 4051
would have authorized a Cold War Service medal, both bills gathered dust
in their respective committee, and died with the end of the 111th Congress.

We were then very excited to see that the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act S.3454 included a provision SEC. 566, that would
have authorized the Cold War Service Medal.

Sadly at the last minute, the Senate voted to accept the House version of the NDAA without debate, and the Cold War Medal was not approved.

We are asking that in the new session of Congress that you consider introducing legislation that would authorize and direct DoD to issue a Cold War Service Medal.

Another thought is that while he was a senator President Obama at least
twice stated that he was in favor of a Cold War Victory Medal, and would sign the bill when it reached his desk.

I am asking if you would consider approaching President Obama to ask
him to use an Executive Order to establish a Cold War Service Medal.
There is precedent, as other presidents have created medals.

I thank you for your service to our country, and I look forward to hearing any thoughts or comments you might have on this issue

Warm regards,

National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans

---------------- "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