For
forty years they kept the Cold War from becoming hot: Americans in
missile silos and Berlin checkpoints, remote B-52 bomber bases and
storm tossed Navy picket ships, all part of the Cold War conflict that
was always a trigger away from global nuclear destruction. They never
received a parade for their courage or professionalism, or even a
public word of thanks. Until now.
On
Saturday, October 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. at the American Airpower Museum
at Republic Airport, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, Cold War veterans
from throughout the region are invited to stand with U.S. Congressman
Steve Israel, History™ Channel’s Chief Historian Dr.
Libby O’Connell and Stop & Shop Supermarkets as they pay public
tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who served during the
Cold War during those desperate decades.
October
was selected because it was during that month that the most dangerous
chapter in the history of the Cold War occurred, the Cuban missile
crisis, as America and the Soviet Union came perilously close to a
thermonuclear exchange. On October 2, 1962, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
were given specific instructions by then Defense Secretary Robert
McNamara outlining how and why the United States would invade Cuba,
including Russia’s installation of offensive missiles directed against
America. It would begin a month long crisis that nearly brought the
world to war.
Congressman
Israel stated, “Each American generation has faced dangerous threats to
our nation’s future. Some events, such as Pearl Harbor or the fall of
Berlin, were immediately recognized as defining moments. The four
decades of the Cold War did not produce such an event. There were no
victory day parades. There was no opportunity to say thank you to those
who stood vigil on behalf of freedom. And, by and large, Long Islanders
do not understand the role they played in being part of the last line
of defense during those forty years of ideological conflict between
Democracy and Communism. Our effort addresses the need to pay tribute
to our Cold War veterans and our need to better understand our history.
History™ stands witness
Dr.
O’Connell said few New Yorkers remember that they were on the front
line throughout the Cold War. “Soviet submarines sat off shore, within
easy missile range during the Cuban missile crisis. Nuclear tipped
Nikes at Rocky Point were poised to detonate in the air to bring down
Russian Bear bombers. Interceptor fighters sat in Westhampton and New
Jersey, always minutes away from `scramble.’ In short, we were an armed
camp, and very few of us knew it then or recall it now.”
Congressman Israel commended History™ and
Stop & Shop for their sponsorship of the tribute effort and, to
sustain awareness of the significance of this era, he will seek to
propose that October be declared Cold War Veterans Tribute Month.
“For
forty years there was not one day that our armed forces could afford to
be anything but vigilant, given that our nation’s very existence was at
risk. We know now that there were times during those four decades when
our opponents actually contemplated nuclear war, but it was only the
threat from a strong, well prepared and determined democracy that kept
those atomic warheads in the silos. Today’s effort is an acknowledgment
that we never said `thank you’ to those who kept the peace and thereby
saved civilization from a nuclear winter,” he noted.
Robert
Hempson, an executive with Stop & Shop, concluded, “We as a nation
have an obligation to pay tribute to those who have defended our
nation, now and in the past. Because of the duration of the Cold War
and the fact that it took many forms in many parts of the world, we
have a tendency to overlook the sacrifice and the courage required to
win that conflict. This is just one opportunity to do so and we are
grateful to partner with History™ and Congressman Israel.”
Those Cold War veterans wishing to attend as guests of Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Congressman Israel and History™ should RSVP to glewi@rubenstein.com. Members of their families are invited to join them. The museum’s web site is www.americanairpowermuseum.com
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| Just
scant yards from Long Island bathers nuclear tipped Nike missiles
protected the New York metro area during the height of the Cold War.
The veterans who manned those sites and those who served throughout the
military during the Cold War will be honored on October 3rd at the
American Airpower Museum at Republic on the eve of the anniversary of
the Cuban missile crisis. |
 |
| F-101’s
based at Westhampton Air Force Base during the 1960’s blast past mid
town Manhattan during a training session during the height of the Cold
War. Cold War veterans, and their families, are invited to a tribute
ceremony with Congressman Steve Israel, the History Channel and Stop
& Shop on October 3rd at the American Airpower Museum at Republic
Airport. |
Visit the museum’s web site for more information.
www.americanairpowermuseum.com and their office of public information is 212 843-8010.
