EQUITY
Basic rights
for all honorably discharged veterans. Level
the effective veterans caste system.
DISCRIMINATION & BIAS
Laws treating one group of veterans differently than another.
Discrimination: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
Discriminating law in the Tax Code toward Cold War Veterans [To
receive tax deductible contributions under IRC 170(c)(3), at least 90%
of the members must be
war veterans.]
This rule unjustly prevents CW vets from organizing, raising funds, lobbying and having a voice.
"War veterans" are defined in Rev. Rul. 84-140 as
persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces during a
period of war. The periods of war are specified in 38 U.S.C. sec. 101
and Rev. Rul. 78-239, 19781 C.B. 162.
Cold Warriors depending on many factors may not be eligible for service pensions.
DISPELLING THE MYTH
POLITICAL MYTH: “We won the Cold War without a shot being fired.” FACT: Too many politicians spout this line, because it is an easy way to dismiss the Cold War as a strictly political conflict.
MONIKER USE
The use of the "peacetime" descriptor by agency and veterans to deny and place Cold War vets as less than equal to others. There is no legal term for peacetime veteran. A veteran that honorably discharged is a veteran and that's it.
EQUITABLE EXEMPTIONS
State property tax exemptions are extended to veterans in many states who have rated service in a period of war or have rated a campaign medal. Some states have extended the tax exemption to veterans equally that have not met the war period criteria.
HOMELESS VETS
One in three of America's homeless are veterans, 30% of which are veterans of the Cold War.
VETERANS HOMES
Many Cold War vets are of the age now that have no options for retirement housing, they however do NOT qualify and cannot get into a Veterans' Home. Without a campaign medal you are not entitled to a them.
MEMORIAL
Memorials throughout the nation are incorrectly categorizing the Cold War, or excluding, or denigrating in manner in which it is categorized.
INTERMENT
The Cold War veteran is denied adding his period of service to his stone or allowed to place medallion at grave.
("Cold War" is
not an official period of conflict)
MEDALS
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), was not authorized to
all Cold War veterans.
NATO forces were not authorized a medal for service in defense of Europe.
The Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), has not been extended or been reviewed to be authorized for "deployed in place" units during the Cold War. Today, a 16 month rotation in a deployed in place billets CONUS is being recommended for full expeditionary duty. Many Cold War veterans, even deployed overseas, have zero medals/ ribbons to show for their service and victory. Strategic mission critical and Nuclear forces have not be recognized.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT 2002
115 STAT. 1118 PUBLIC LAW 107–107 undefined DEC. 28, 2001.
SEC. 556. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN MEDALS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should consider authorizing undefined--
(2) the issuance of a campaign medal, to be known as
the Cold War Service Medal, to each person who while a
member of the Armed Forces served satisfactorily on active
duty during the Cold War;
OUTCOME: THE MEDAL APPROVED BY HOUSE, SENATE, AND PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
NOT CREATED FOR REASONS POTENTIALLY EQUATED WITH IRAQ WAR PLANNING.
“The Certificate”
Authorized by Congress in NDAA1998, Administered by Secretary Cohen, 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 – perhaps in excess of 50 million people. Nowhere on the “certificate of recognition” is the term military service or national defense mentioned. The Office of the Secretary of Defense estimates that just over a million certificates have been issued. This amounts to demand by just over 2% of potential eligible's. They estimate that the certificates cost about $5 each to produce and distribute – about the same as we estimate the Cold War Medal would cost the government.
[The Certificate is
not recognition]
HAZARD EXPOSURES
End the denial to exposure and reconcile operations
INTERPRETIVE BARRIERS
Supporting organizations, groups and locations in developing interpretive sites for educational purposes and to preserve Cold War legacy.
Lending expertise to restoration.
REVISIONIST HISTORY
VIGILANCE
CLOSURE