Cold War Veterans Blog

ACWV Featured in Cold War Times

November 2007 - Vol. 7, Issue 4


NEW COLD WAR VETERANS ORGANIZATION FORMED
AMERICAN COLD WAR VETERANS, INC.


On Saturday, August 18, the American Cold War Veterans (ACWV) organization held its inaugural meeting at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO. American Cold War Veterans is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of Florida, and has a web site at www.americancoldwarvets.org, and a discussion forum (http://americancoldwarvets.aimoo.com).

(Photo taken at Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO.
After Inaugural Meeting, the group enjoyed a tour of the Cold War exhibits and the full-size replica of the Oval Office).

The next ACWV meeting will be in Washington, DC on April 30 – May 1.
Please plan to attend.

The new organization’s Board of Directors include Frank M. Tims (FL), Lloydene Hill (OR), Sean Eagan (NY), Hector Ed Autry (MO), and Jerald Terwilliger (ME). Two additional seats on the board are to be filled by election from the membership in 2008. A complete list of ACWV’s officers may be viewed on the web site www.americancoldwarvets.org.

This is a new organization, not affiliated with the Cold War Veterans Association, (Lenexa, KS), and should not be confused with that organization.

All veterans of the United States Armed Forces (including foreign troops who were attached to US units and headquarters) who served honorably between the dates of September 6, 1945, and December 26, 1991, inclusive, are invited to join. The membership year runs from August 1 through July 31 of the year following, and dues begin at $25 (basic level) and range upward to $125 per year for sustaining members. We have not yet established a life membership category, but do plan to address this question at out April 30 meeting in Washington, DC.
Our goals include 1) remembrance of those who lost life or liberty in the Cold War, and memorializing them at an annual May 1 “Day of Remembrance for Forgotten Heroes of the Cold War,” 2) recognition of those who served, and the value of their service, through establishment of a Cold War Medal that can be legally worn, and 3) relevance to the needs of our nation, and supporting those who continue to serve. It is important that the real narrative of the Cold War be properly told and remembered, and the lessons of the Cold War must not be lost to fading memory or revisionist myth. Our members are important to us, and we respect them, their service, and their needs. We do not intend to allow those who served to be betrayed by uncaring leaders.

Now the fight begins in the House-Senate Conference. We need to add as many senators as possible to S.1763, the Cold War Medal Act of 2007. What killed us last time around was lack of Senate support. We have to show strength now -- time to write, call, fax, e-mail your senators, and get everyone you know to do the same. Never mind their committee assignments, just get them to sign on as cosponsors. Also ask members of Senate Armed Services Committee to help us keep SEC 556 in the final bill. The message to Armed Services Committee Members is "Please keep SEC 556 (COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL) of H.R.1585, the National Defense Authorization Act in the final version of the NDAA."

For more information on American Cold War Veterans (ACWV) or The Cold War Victory medal, contact Frank Tims at ftims@aol.com.