End to Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated his intention to have the Senate vote on repeal
of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell before a new Congress convenes in January.

"We are in session, if necessary, up to January 5. I hope that's not necessary, but that's the clock my
Republicans colleagues have to run out," said Reid. I'm not going to let our country's work not
be completed."

The House approved the legislation late Wednesday by a margin of 250-175. So if the Senate approves
the bill it will go to President Obama to sign into law.

President Obama has already stated he wants to see the ban eliminated. Also calling for repeal of the
ban are The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike
Mullen.

The legislation would lift the ban only after the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs certify that doing so would not harm military effectiveness, readiness, unit cohesion
and recruiting and retention.

We are hopeful that with the passage of this legislation, Congress can proceed to the National Defense
Authorization Act, finish the tax-cut plan; as well as other pending important legislation required
to keep our country running strong and true.

Jerald Terwilliger
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

Cold War Service Medal

As a followup to my posting regarding the Cold War Service Medal in the NDAA 2011
I put in a link to the press release but I should have also included the link
to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

We need the support of the committee to ensure that the medal does not get removed
during the House/Senate conference meetings.

If you use this http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm it will take you to the committee web page.
From there you can click on each members name this will take you to their website.
from there look for the link to send an email. You will have to include your name
and address in the form. Send a simple message such as this:
The Honorable(senator's name)
Washington, Dc

Dear Senator

I want to thank you for the provision placed in the NDAA 2011 to authorize a Cold War
Service Medal. This is a well deserved and long awaited honor to all who served
honorably during the Cold War.

I ask two things, if you have not yet become a cosponsor to bill S.2743 please do so.
Also please do everything in your power to ensure that the medal does not get removed
from the NDAA during the Senate/House conference meetings.

I look forward to hearing any thoughts or comments you might have on this issue.

Regards,

(your name)

You can write your own message and say what you think best.

Then also go to both of your senators pages and send a letter asking them to cosponsor
S.2743 and vote for passage of the NDAA 2011.

Thank you one and all, we need your help to get this done this year.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
"We Remember"