THE COLD WAR MEDAL - LONG OVERDUE!

[Sheridan Folger]

THE COLD WAR MEDAL - LONG OVERDUE!

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The Cold War Victory Medal was stripped out of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2009!
The American Cold War Veterans ask you to champion and support language for a Cold War Medal in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010. Contact your Senators!

We ask that you support the following platform agenda:

• Establish a proper military medal for service in the Cold War.

• Institute a “National Day of Remembrance” for Cold War heroes.

• Change the inequitable laws that discriminate against veterans of the Cold
War.

• Fully account for all POW/MIA’s from all conflicts including the Cold War.

• Review of Cold War Operations. Declassify what can be declassified so future generations will understand and appreciate the
significance of the Cold War. The covert nature of Cold War operations kept the
details secret from the general public to the detriment of the
veteran.

• Uphold the facts of the Cold War and fight any revisionists that would steal our victory.

No more "certificates," no more "recommendations," just include the Cold War Medal in the final NDAA for
2010.

www.AMERICANCOLDWARVETS.org
P.O. Box 540, Bethlehem, NH 03574
603-869-5625

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“The Cold War Recognition Certificate” is not recognition!

Authorized by Secretary of Defense William Cohen in 1999, this rather bland document is available to anyone who served during the Cold War as a US Government employee. This includes temporary employees of the Postal Service during the holiday season, and thus the potential number of eligible is very
large – possibly in excess of 50 million people. Nowhere on the “certificate of
recognition” are the terms “military service” or “national defense”
mentioned.

All Major Veterans Organizations Support the Cold War Medal

President Obama has stated his support for Cold War veterans. It is now time to pass legislation that he will sign to fully honor
those who preserved our freedom throughout the Cold War. We ask you to hold him
to his words!

E-mail to American Cold War Veterans (ACWV) member Frank Almquist from Senator Obama:
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 11:14 AM

Dear Frank:

I agree that the Cold War Victory Medal would be an appropriate honor. The Cold War was a period that required both skilled
diplomacy and military readiness. For veterans who had to be prepared to fight a
war that most people agreed would be catastrophic, there certainly should be
some recognition of service and willingness to defend and go to battle for the
United States.
In each of the past two years, the Cold War Victory Medal has passed the House as part of its version of the annual defense authorization bill
but has been stymied by influential members of the Senate Armed Services
Committee. I certainly share your hope that this impasse can be broken soon.

Sincerely,
Barack Obama, United States Senator

Letter from Obama for America answering ACWV’s questions:
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 6:16 AM

Thank you, Scott, for your activism and your heroic work on behalf of your fellow Cold War
veterans. We can never forget the heroic work that our military did during that
dangerous time in our history or let the memory of the real threats America
faced from the Soviet Union fade.

1. Barack Obama believes the men and women who served the country during one of the most treacherous periods in
American history deserve recognition. As president, he would sign legislation
creating a cold war medal.

2. Obama believes we should recognize the brave people who died in the intelligence services during the Cold
War.

3. Obama supports a day of remembrance for the intelligence community heroes of Cold War.

4. Obama believes we must reverse the ban on Priority 8 enrollment, a policy that has led the VA to turn away a
million veterans who needed care.

5. Please see the fact sheet at this link to see how Obama plans to keep America 's sacred trust with its
veterans: http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/Press/Fact%20Sheet%20VFW%20Speech%...

6. It is America's duty to seek a full accounting of its Missing in Action from all
conflicts, including the Cold War. Obama will work to declassify as much
information as possible as president.

Best,
Obama for NH, Michael Negron, Obama for America

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“Many Americans died in operations that remain, even to this day, unacknowledged, entailing heroism and loss that have yet to be revealed to a grateful nation. We should remember and honor those whose sacrifices brought about a victorious conclusion to the Cold War, to the
enormous betterment of the United States and the world.”
- Dr. Donald C. Winter, Secretary of Navy, October 21, 2006 -

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EVENT: Congressional Breakfast & National Meeting:
Forgotten Heroes of the Cold War - Day of Remembrance
LOCATION: Senate Hart Building - SH-902
DATE: 05/01/2009
TIME: 08:00 AM to 10:00 AM
GROUP: American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Followed by ceremony for forgotten heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

For details, visit www.AMERICANCOLDWARVETS.org or email [e-mail]