Press Release for Cold War Service Medal H.R. 2067

Here is the Press Release from Representative Steve Israel
As of today Fri May 22 there are 13 cosponsors to H.R. 2067
Please continue to contact your Representative to become cosponsor. Ask both of your Senators to introduce similar legislation in the Senate

News Release

Rep. Israel Recognizes Memorial Day and Honors Forgotten Heroes of the Cold War

Joins Local Veterans to Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Cold War Service Medal

Up to 35 Million Service Members May be Eligible for the Medal

Hicksville, NY— Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) joined Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, Commander Bill Walden and over a dozen Long Island veterans to recognize Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 25^th, and announce the introduction of legislation to honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during the Cold War.

For generations, the United States has honored combat veterans or veterans of foreign wars proudly, but has failed to properly recognize the veterans who served during the Cold War in order to prevent a nuclear war. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, an estimated 35 million service members may be eligible for the medal.

“On Memorial Day we honor and remember the generations of brave Americans that selflessly gave their lives in defense of our freedoms,” saidRep. Steve Israel. “Today I ask that as a country we honor those forgotten veterans who bravely served our country during the Cold War without parades, celebrations or so much as a public thanks.  It is long past time that they receive the proper recognition that they deserve for protecting our country, and the world, from the grip of communism and nuclear war. New Yorkers have a long and storied tradition of honoring our veterans, and presenting these men and women with the medal they have earned is the least we can do to recognize their courage and sacrifice.”;

“As Vice Chair of the Veterans and Senior Affairs Committee, I thank Congressman Israel for his tireless work to support our veterans in Nassau County and across New York. Cold War Veterans have been overlooked for far too long and this medal will be a major step in helping them receive the recognition they deserve,” saidNassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker.

“I am proud to join Congressman Israel in supporting a Cold War Service Medal because the men and women who served during the Cold War answered the call to protect our nation just like the veterans that came before them. Presenting them with a medal to honor their service will help future generations remember that their sacrifice helped prevent the next world war,” saidBill Walden, Commander of the Hicksville VFW.

North Shore LIJ Veterans Program Specialist Anthony Silvera said, “I want to personally thank Congressman Israel for giving me and the millions of other men and women who served during the Cold War the opportunity to be recognized for our service. This medal is a symbol for generations to come of our commitment to our country and our country’s commitment to our veterans.”;

"'Cold War' is a term that perhaps invites stereotypes, but involved many shades of warfare-conventional and unconventional, open and in the shadows. We served in places most of the world never heard of and in locations that routinely made headlines. Our numbers include volunteers and draftees, active duty service members, reservists and members of the National Guard.  For 46 years, Cold War veterans served with pride and honor around the globe as guardians of America's freedom.  Sometimes, the Cold War turned very hot, and we accepted that risk. Now we, our families, and our friends welcome the introduction of the Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 by Rep. Steve Israel  to insure that the service and sacrifice of  Cold War veterans is understood, remembered, and recognized,” saidCharles H. Nalls, Director, American Cold War Veterans.  

Rep. Israel’s bipartisan legislation, The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 (H.R. 2067), creates the Cold War Service Medal, for members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were honorably discharged after having served on active duty during the Cold War, including service during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Eligible veterans must haveserved on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War, which spans from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991, deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during that period, or performed other Cold War service as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe. 

Since joining Congress, Rep. Israel has been an advocate for local veterans, securing more than $8.1 million in overdue payments for Long Island veterans, and supporting improvements for veteran’s health care and veteran’s benefits.

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---- 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

Pennsylvania to dedicate Cold War Memorial

Slowly and surely the Cold War is garnering recognition. Cities, towns, counties, states are remembering the Cold War, what it meant, how it influenced our country.

Many high schools and collages now have courses dedicated to the Cold War as part of their history/social science requirements.

We are still attempting to convince Congress to authorize a Cold War Service Medal. It has been a long struggle, but we will not give up the fight.

Cold War monument to be dedicated

The Veterans Memorial Park and Education Center Society will be dedicating the Cold War Monument, their most recent project, on Monday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. This event will take place at Veterans Park at Airport Park in Matamoras. The Cold War spanned the years 1945 to 1991. Although not a shooting war, it was a time of serious tension between the United States, its allies and the Soviet Union. To honor the sacrifice of the men and women who served during that period of time, park sponsors are inviting all military posts, organizations, individual veterans, and the general public to attend the dedication. Military posts that would like to take part in the ceremony with their color guards, are asked to contact Dick Gassmann at 570-491-4003, or Gene Goldner at 570-686-1448

Please contact your elected officials in Washington ask them to introduce legislation, or be a cosponsor when someone else brings forth a bill to authorize and direct DoD to issue a Cold War Service/Victory Medal.

Jerald Terwilliger, Chairman

American Cold War Veterans, Inc

Russia Parades Military Might

MOSCOW — Rows of missiles and tanks rumbled through Moscow's Red Square and dozens of combat jets streaked overhead in the Victory Day parade Saturday in the largest display of military might since the Soviet times.

President Dmitry Medvedev warned sternly that Russia was ready to respond to any challenge and said its military has proven that in real action — a clear reference to the war with neighboring ex-Soviet Georgia.

While Medvedev didn't specifically mention the war, he alluded to the five-day conflict, saying that the World War II taught a lesson which "remains acute today when again there are those who engage in military adventurism."

• The August war erupted when Georgian troops moved to restore control over the separatist province of South Ossetia, which hosted Russian peacekeepers and had close ties with Moscow. Russia responded with overwhelming might, sending troops and tanks that quickly crushed the Georgian military and drove deep into Georgia.

Medvedev said that among soldiers taking part in Victory Day parade, "there are those who have proven high capability of the Russian military in real action." "We are confident that any aggression against our citizens will be firmly repelled," he said.

The war and Russia's subsequent recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Georgian separatist province, badly strained Moscow's relations with the West.
Medvedev underlined Russia's firm support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia by sending his Victory Day greetings to leaders of both regions, putting them on equal par with heads of ex-Soviet nations who he also congratulated.

Russia and NATO sought recently to rebuild ties frozen over the war, but tensions soared again over NATO's military exercises in Georgia launched earlier this week. On Wednesday, Russia announced the expulsion of two Moscow-based NATO officials in a tit-for-tat move after NATO revoked the accreditation of two Russian envoys to alliance headquarters in Brussels.
Medvedev on Saturday said respect for international law is essential for maintaining global peace and reaffirmed his push for a new European security treaty.
Photo Essays
Victory Day
He added that security in Europe must be based on "reliable arms control and reasonable sufficiency of military structures, broad cooperation between states and exclusively peaceful settlement of conflicts."

Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, is Russia's most important secular holiday, and the parade reflected the Kremlin's efforts to revive the nation's armed forces and global clout.

Russia first restored the Soviet-era practice of annual displays of heavy weaponry last year, but this time it put even more weapons on display.

Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, his predecessor and now prime minister, watched the parade from a podium in from of Lenin's tomb which was bashfully hidden by panels in three colors of Russian flag in an apparent effort to dodge comparisons with the Soviet past.

The show displayed about 9,000 goose-stepping troops and more than 100 combat vehicles, including new Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles. For the first time, it featured the state-of-the art S-400 air defense missiles which Russian officials say are unrivaled in their combat capability.

Also taking part in the parade were 69 combat planes and helicopters — twice the number featuring in last year's show. They included the world's heaviest An-124 Ruslan cargo plane, Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers and scores of fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
"I think, the Red Square parade made everyone feel proud for our country," Medvedev told veterans at a Kremlin reception which followed the show.