MILITARY ORDER OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
The Cold War Medal has been adopted as an official medal of the MOFWUS.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
Resolution
No. 428: COLD WAR
VICTORY MEDAL
WHEREAS, in 1998, the United States (U.S.) government
recognized the contributions of over 20 million U.S. service members during the
Cold War with a certificate of recognition; and
WHEREAS, no medal exists to
recognize the dedication and participation of these service members in hundreds
of military exercises and operations that occurred between 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991 to promote world peace
and stability; and
WHEREAS, during this period service
members were killed, wounded, and missing in Cold War operations overseas,
which were separate from other recognized wars such as the Korean War and
Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, eligibility for a veteran’s
pension, in part, requires honorable service during time of war, Cold War
veterans are not eligible for a pension because there is no medal indicating a
Cold War existed; and
WHEREAS, there is a significant
population of homeless veterans in the United States many of whom are not
eligible for a veteran’s pension; and
WHEREAS, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States recognizes that the Cold
War veterans prevented world domination of communism and nuclear war; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and right
that these service members receive proper recognition from their government in
the form of the award of a Cold War Victory Medal that will entitle eligibility
for a veteran’s pension; and
WHEREAS, the United States government has not
properly recognized the service of these veterans who sacrificed so much; now,
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, that we support the creation and awarding of
a Cold War Victory Medal to all eligible U.S. service personnel who served in
the military during the Cold War era, 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991, and
whose service has not already been recognized by a campaign or service medal.
Adopted
by the 108th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States
held in Kansas City, Missouri,
August 18-23, 2007
NINETIETH NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF
THE AMERICAN LEGION
Phoenix, Arizona
August 26, 27, 28, 2008
Resolution No. 88: Cold War Victory Medal
Origin: Florida
Submitted by: Convention Committee on National Security
Consolidated with Resolution 16 (DC)
WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces engaged the forces of international communism continuously from the end of World War II until the disintegration of the former Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, The United States, during this extended period, relied for its manpower source on a national service Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps made up of citizens performing their obligated duty to serve and defend the United States; and
WHEREAS, The defeat of the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies constituted the greatest success of American Armed Forces since the end of World War II; and
WHEREAS, Many American citizens served the nation in assigned duties without receiving tangible recognition for that service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Phoenix, Arizona, August 26, 27, 28, 2008, That The American Legion urge Congress to authorize and provide funding for the award of a COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL to all Armed Forces members who served on extended active duty during the period of September 2, 1945 through December 26, 1991, thereby commemorating service in the Cold War to eliminate the threat of a determined enemy to overpower the freely elected democracies of the world.