A Youtube argument for the Cold War Victory/Service Medal

A member of The American Cold War Veterans Facebook group has created a very good youtube
video for creating and issuing a Cold War Victory/Service Medal. Please watch and then share it
in every place you can. We are still fighting for recognition and respect for those who served
during the Cold War Public Service Announcement for the Cold War Victory Medal

We need the help and support of every citizen of the United States, it does not matter if you are
a veteran or not. Contact your Senators and Representatives urge them to introduce a bill that
will authorize and direct the Department of Defense to issue this medal.

Since the end of the Cold War in 1991 we have argued and pleaded to have this medal issued, but
have not yet reached our goal. Twenty two years is too long to wait.

---- 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

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Small Town USA -Dawson/Lower Tyrone, PA Honors Cold War Veterans

The Dawson/Lower Tyrone Honor Roll Committee has been waiting almost three years to make this 
announcement:
 The new monument honoring veterans of the Korean, Vietnam and Cold war eras is in place and will
 be dedicated at 11 a.m. Aug. 31. The monument is covered and will be unveiled at a ceremony to include the 
Fayette Vietnam Veteran's Honor Guard, Rolling Thunder, a community chorus and guest speakers.

The keynote address will be given by Maj. Gen. Robert French, a career serviceman, a veteran on the 

Honor Roll  and a Dawson, R.D. 1 native, who has had a long and distinguished career beginning with the

 Vietnam  conflict and remains active in military affairs today.

The Honor Roll Committee is still raising funds to complete the monument project. A ticket is 

being sold which has a jackpot and a bonus winner. The winner will be from the 7 p.m. 

drawing on Aug. 31. 

The tickets are available for $2 each and are available from any committee member. 

Dedication program booklets are also being printed and will be available at the dedication. 

The books will sell for approximately 

$8 and contain the agenda, pictures, history of the project, memorials, listing of contributors and
ads from many local businesses.

The committee wishes to thank the many folks who have assisted in bringing this project to fruition.
This has been and is, a totally community based project. But the heroes of the effort have names
that are emblazoned in bronze on a beautiful monument that will be uncovered on Aug. 31.
This is your community's way of saying in some small way, “Thank you for your service
and sacrifice!
 May God bless!” The public is invited to join in the festivities.

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I have to say that this is an outstanding achievement for a small borough in southwestern 

Pennsylvania. In the 2000 census Dawson consisted

of 451 people, 183 households and 120 families in .2 square miles. Lower Tyrone Township has an 

area of 16.1 square miles with population of 1,171 people.

Once again, a small borough/township have stepped up to honor Cold War Veterans, which is more

than can be said for national recognition for the Cold Warriors who contained communism and kept the 

world free.

 Please contact your elected officials in Washington, DC ask them why Cold War Veterans

continue to be ignored and dismissed. 

If small towns, cities, counties and even some states can stand tall and remember those who served

why is it so hard for our country as a whole to say Thank You.

---- 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

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Vietnam Veterans Still Fighting Agent Orange

For many Vietnam veterans in Sumner County, across the nation, the Vietnam conflict still isn’t over as the effects of exposure to Agent Orange takes its toll on the veterans, their descendants and survivors.

“Operation Ranch Hand” was the code name for the spraying of a host of herbicides, primarily Agent Orange, by the U.S. military in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries to protect American and allied troops by defoliating the dense jungle vegetation hiding enemy positions.

Over the past few decades, a substantial body of scientific and medical research has shown that Agent Orange and other herbicides containing dioxin have a high probability of causing or contributing to a variety of health conditions suffered by veterans who served in Vietnam between January 1962 and May 1975. Approximately 2.8 million veterans served in Southeast Asia.

No one knows for sure how many of these veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. Some were deployed in areas during and immediately after spraying operations, while others actually handled Agent Orange and did the spraying. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin contaminants have reported a variety of serious health problems and symptoms.

The Veterans Administration has determined that 13 diseases suffered by Vietnam veterans, including prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, respiratory cancers (of the lung, bronchus, larynx or trachea), chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Type II diabetes and some heart disease are among those caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Vietnam veterans and their families who may have suffered from these diseases may file for compensation. Some birth defects affecting children and grandchildren may have also been caused by Agent Orange.

---- 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

New Jersey Cold War Medal Followup

I received information today that the New Jersey Legislature is still considering two bills that will authorize

a Cold War Medal.

In the Assembly is bill number A3828 and in the Senate is a mirror bill S2589. Both bills is currently sitting in

the Budget and Appropriations committees of both the Assembly and the Senate. The Assembly bill is also

in the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

I urge everyone who lives in New Jersey to contact their State Senators and Assembly persons and ask them

to cosponsor and forward the bills.

Or contact the chairpersons of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committees: in the Senate: Senator James Beach,

in the Assembly: Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker.

If we can add another state that will issue a Cold War Medal it just might help in our national push for recognition,

and a medal issued by the federal government.

One thing about the New Jersey bill, it would be for anyone who is living in New Jersey, or lived in New Jersey

at the beginning of the time of service. It would not be limited (at least at this time) to the guard or reserves.

This could be a big step in the process and a push in the correct direction. If we continue to attract attention

and garner local and state backing and support we just might be able to convince Congress and DoD that

the time has come to standby our veterans and finally say Thank You For Your Service

---- 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

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Texas Passes Cold War Medal, New Jersey Still Debating

Texas H.B. 402 was passed by the House on April 3, 2013 Yeas 147, Nays 0. The bill was passed by

the Senate on May 17, 2013 Yeas 31, Nays 0.

The bill will be effective Sept. 1, 2013.

So if you served in the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 29, 1991

can apply to the adjutant general's department. Veterans will have to pay the cost of the medal. At this time

there is no information available as to just what that cost will be.

So now Texas, Louisiana and Alaska have authorized a medal/ribbon for Cold War Service. 

Lets all keep contacting your elected officials, both state and federal to get this medal issued to all who served.

There is no further word on the state of New Jersey House Bill A-3828 and in the Senate an identical bill S2589 

New Jersey estimates that there are 122,000 Cold War Veterans and the cost would be
about 1.9 million dollars. That is a cost of $15.00 per medal and would require two additional staff members with salary of $35,000 each per year. The state does not expect that all veterans would apply and that not all who do apply would do so in the first year. 

So that cost would be spread over several years. 

That is exactly what we have been telling DoD, the costs would be spread over several years. Even the Congressional Budget Office has stated the same theme, it would not be an
all at once cost and would take several years to have the medal issued to all veterans.


---- 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

Lebanon, PA to honor Cold War Veterans

For those of you who live in and around Lebanon, PA be proud. Once again small town America
steps up to notice Cold War Veterans more information here:
Lebanon, PA

Thank You Lebanon Valley and city of Lebanon, PA

---- 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