STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - November 05, 2009)
[Page: S11217] GPO's PDF By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. WEBB, Mrs. LINCOLN, and Ms. LANDRIEU):
S. 2743. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator WEBB, Senator LINCOLN, and Senator LANDRIEU to introduce the Cold War Medal Act of 2009. This legislation would provide the authority for the secretaries of the military departments to award Cold War Service Medals to the courageous American patriots who for nearly half-a-century defended the Nation, and indeed, freedom-loving peoples throughout the world, against the advance of communist ideology.
From the end of World War II to dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold War veterans were in the vanguard of this Nation's defenses. They manned the missile silos, ships, and aircraft, on ready alert status or on far off patrols, or demonstrated their resolve in hundreds of exercises and operations worldwide. The commitment, motivation, and fortitude of the Cold War Veterans was second to none.
Astonishingly, no medal exists to recognize the dedication of our patriots who so nobly stood watch in the cause of promoting world peace. Although there have been instances where medals or ribbons, such as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal, have been issued, the vast majority of Cold War Veterans did not receive any medal to pay tribute to their dedication and patriotism during this extraordinary period in American history. It is only fitting that these brave servicemembers who served honorably during this era receive the recognition for their efforts in the form of the Cold War Service Medal.
Specifically, the Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 would allow the Defense Department to issue a Cold War Service Medal to any honorably discharged veteran who served on active duty for not less than two years or was deployed for thirty days or more during the period from September 2, 1945, to December 26, 1991. In the case of those veterans who are now deceased, the medal could be issued to their family or representative, as determined by the Defense Department. The bill would also express the sense of Congress that the secretary of Defense should expedite the design of the medal and expedite the establishment and implementation mechanisms to facilitate the issuance of the Cold War Service Medal.
The award of the Cold War Service Medal is supported by the American Cold War Veterans, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and many other veterans' services organizations.
With November 9, 2009, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall which marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War, quickly approaching, Senator WEBB, Senator LINCOLN, Senator LANDRIEU, and I invite our colleagues to cosponsor this significant legislation to honor our Cold War Veterans.
