sonoranweeklyreview.com nails it dead on McCain is no doubt one of the major reasons the CWSM and CWVm have been stonewalled in committee for 10 plus years. Arizona don't you think its time for a change.
John McCain Cactus Prick of the Week!
Say Hello To Cactus Prick of The Week John "forget the Veterans" McCain
McCAIN REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST VETERANS' HEALTH BENEFITS
The list of veteran's bills that McCain has voted against is staggering. He has one of the worst anti-veteran voting records in Congress going back to 1994. "No Surrender!" Unless you're the one surrendering them right Johnny?
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care.
Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care.
McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans' Care.
Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities.
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders.
McCain Voted in Support of Disabled Veterans Only 25 Percent of the Time from 2004-2005.
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans.
McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists.
McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs
He Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed.
2003: McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs.
2001: McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding.
2000: McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1999: McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs.
1996: McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs.
1995: McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs.
1995: McCain Voted Against Closing Tax Loopholes to Increase Veterans Funding by $74 Million.
1994: McCain Voted Against Funding the Department of Veterans Affairs.
. . . Every Time He Has The Chance
Worst of all McCain has REPEATEDLY helped stop the Cold War Victory Medal in the US Senate.
What? This "soldier of the Reagan Revolution" refuses to honor those that sacrificed in service to freedom in this country? No . . . he actually REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER.
From September, 1945, until the fall of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991, which is commonly referred to as the Cold War era, millions of Americans served in the armed services of this country. Millions of American's also served in various civilian roles.
The United States during that period of time led a long and costly struggle for freedom between the forces of democratic nations and tyrannical brutal Communist ideology and military action under constant threat from the Soviet Union, which was pledged to destroy the Western way of life, and was the largest and most foreboding enemy the United States ever faced.
Currently if a serviceman served during the Korean, Vietnam or Persian Gulf War eras, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal by the congress of the United States in an effort to show the country's gratitude for the sacrifices endured during those armed conflicts.
However if military service was performed during the periods between those armed conflicts, which occurred for a majority of veterans and civilians of the Cold War era, they have nothing to show for their service, even though they comprised a force that suffered casualties, disrupted families and careers often ready even though often out manned and outgunned and stood guard over the threat of world domination in Europe and Asia by the Communist ideology and military action and that this unique war was marked by periodic confrontations between the West and the East.
You often hear politicians spout off at the moth with the remark "We won the Cold War without a shot being fired"
The truth is that statement could not be more UNTRUE. But, John McCain doesn't care.
The Cold War had all the essential ingredients of an all-out war, requiring servicemen to train for and maintain a constant state of readiness, expecting total war to break out at any time. Those veterans who served in America's armed services from 1945 through 1991 upheld the country's freedom in the face of a large and menacing enemy, and all citizens of this country owe them a debt of gratitude for they and their families contributions and personal sacrifices which allowed the United States to persevere and prosper throughout that entire period.
For nearly two decades now there has been a huge effort to pass the Cold War Victory Medal. For nearly two decades now John McCain has stood in the way, ABSOLUTELY REFUSING literally HUNDREDS of attempts to speak with American Cold War Veterans. John McCain will not support the Cold War Victory Medal, He also has repeatedly NOT supported declaring May 1st as Cold War Victory Day and refused to even give an explanation let alone support.
The Cold War Medal would and could change the game. By passing the Cold War Victory Medal it would begin a process of giving true equality to all.
The Cold War Medal could eliminate the "periods of war" that is used to exclude many and marginalize the rest. "periods of war" is what needs to be expunged as a criteria for many things.
It's complete hypocrisy. That thought process would mean and does mean that since 1990 it has been a period of war and it is open ended until further declaration by congress says its not. That means every vet that serves 1 day since 1990 and today and forward regardless of contribution or injury in service is a war veteran and entitled to pensions on top of other benefits.
At 65 they get stipends and "aid and attendance" and a parachute that Colld War vets do not get having served over many years, many of whom sacrificed greatly along with their families.
Huge entitlement packages are not something we are in favor of, however if entitlements exist they should be available to all on an equal basis.
Passing the Cold War Victory Medal is simply giving acknowledgment to generations of courageous men and women that supported and protected freedom better than any generations that came before. That is it, acknowledgment and honor. John McCain REFUSES to give either.
John McCain has been personally contacted in regards to the Cold War Victory Medal many many times. Every one of his aides has been contacted at one point or another. His friends have been contacted. His family members have been contacted. While many of these folks offer kind words of support or outright support the issuing of the Medal, still John McCain does not. Still John McCain refuses to even respond to America's Cold War Veterans. We have been to his offices in AZ and DC, his meetings, his town-halls, we have had members ride on bus tours with McCain . . . and still we are forgotten and ignored. He only parades about the Veterans when it is politically expedient.
Having a different perspective is one thing. Acting like a gutless disrespectful coward in the face of millions of courageous men and women, the REAL heroes of America, is disgraceful and disgusting and well Prickish.
WE STRONGLY URGE EVERYONE TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN TO SUPPORT S.2743 and H.R.4051 and H.R. 900
In October of 2001, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA")[2] for fiscal year 2002, which is signed into law on December 28, 2001 by President George W. Bush. In the NDAA approved by both houses and signed into law by the president, was a Sense of the Congress resolution that the Secretary of Defense should consider authorizing 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. The then-Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, did not create such a medal.
The Cold War Victory Medal has passed the House yet again, with a huge margin. Each time it is held up and killed in subversive Senate sub-committees and McCain helps make this happen.
Help America's Veterans make the Cold War Victory Medal PASS and declare May1st as Cold War Victory Day. Then help America's Veterans permanently retire John McCain and replace him with someone of true integrity that will NEVER EVER EVER fail America's Veterans again.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN MORE BY VISITING
http://www.coldwarveterans.com
http://www.americancoldwarvets.org/
http://cold-war-veterans-blog.blogspot.com/
Then take the time to learn about John McCain's opponents for his Senate race. Ask them about their support for America's Cold War Veterans and be sure to tell them that a massive movement is under way to have America's forgotten match McCain oh so important "war-chest" of $5million and beat him over the head with it.
American Legion endorses Cold War Victory Medal
EIGHTY-SIXTH NATIONAL CONVENTION of
THE AMERICAN LEGION
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
August 31—September 2, 2004
RESOLUTION No. 10: Awarding The Cold War Victory Medal
ORIGIN: District of Columbia
SUBMITTED BY: Convention Committee on National Security
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 Nashville, Tennessee, August 31, September 1, 2, 2004, That The American Legion urge the 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 2 September 1945 through 26 December 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.
AMVETS endorses Cold War Victory Medal
AUGUST 12, 2004—Spokane, Washington
RESOLUTION 05-70: CREATION OF A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL
SOURCE: COLD WAR COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has authorized the Cold War Certificate for those Americans who served in the Armed Forces, or in other government agencies, during the period Sept. 2, 1945 through Dec. 26, 1991, and whose duties contributed directly to this nation's Cold War efforts; and
WHEREAS, the 1990 Census indicates that at least 18 million Cold War veterans were alive at that time, and further estimates indicate that as many as 22 million Americans served honorably during the Cold War; and
WHEREAS, the Cold War was of such magnitude and scope that there is no comparable event in history, and therefore must be treated as singularly unique; and
WHEREAS, the American victory in the Cold War changed the world forever, and those Americans who served honorably in the Armed Forces should be recognized in the form of a medal: Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That AMVETS — [a] veterans organization which represents every Cold War veteran — proposes that Congress direct the Department of Defense to design, authorize, and supervise distribution of a Cold War Victory Medal; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all congressionally chartered and/or recognized veterans organizations, pending their individual requests, may be authorized to act as witnesses to the honorable services through visual inspection of the appropriate documents — and will at the local post level issue affidavits attesting to the eligibility of each applicant; and be it further
RESOLVED, That any requirement for posting of the award to individual military personnel records be waived, and a separate record of issuance of Cold War Victory medals be maintained.
VFW endorses Cold War Medal
104th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
San Antonio, Texas — August 2003
RESOLUTION No. 471: Cold War Foreign Service Medal
Submitted by Department of New York
To Committee on NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The intent of this resolution is:
To petition Congress to authorize a Cold War Foreign Service Medal only for all military personnel who served anywhere overseas duty during the period 2 September 1954 to 26 December 1991.
WHEREAS, Executive Order 12985, signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton, on 11 January 1996, authorized the Armed Forces Service Medal for members, who as a unit, participate in a military operation of the United States of America deemed to be significant and no armed foreign opposition is encountered or no imminent hostile action; and
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces Service Medal is a non-combat parallel of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and
WHEREAS, foreign service during America's longest war, the Cold War between September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991, has yet to be recognized with a foreign service medal; and
WHEREAS, imminent hostile action with an armed foreign power was always a possibility during the Cold War and was a reason American troops were stationed in foreign countries that were members of NATO and SEATO or other world organizations; and
WHEREAS, American troops were killed and wounded overseas during the Cold War, yet their service has never been recognized by a campaign and/or foreign service medal; and
WHEREAS, during the Cold War, millions of United States service personnel served in foreign countries and could become significant population of male and female eligibles for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we petition the Congress to authorize a Cold War Foreign Service Medal to recognize foreign service personnel who served in foreign countries that currently are not recognized during America's longest war, the Cold War.
APPROVED AS AMENDED by the 104th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
ROA endorses Cold War Medal
Resolution No. 04-14: Cold War Service Medal
WHEREAS, the Fiscal Year 2002 Defense Authorization Act encouraged the Secretary of Defense to consider authorizing the Cold War Service Medal, for the period 2 September 1945 through 26 December 1991; and
WHEREAS, the veterans of the Cold War faithfully served our country during a campaign of Soviet Block aggression, Eastern Europe occupation, and the constant threat of nuclear attack; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Defense has not yet authorized the wearing of the Cold War Service Medal on the military uniform;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, chartered by Congress, urge the Congress to direct the Secretary of Defense to authorize and issue the Cold War Service Medal.
Adopted by the National Convention June 12, 2004
Combat Infantrymen's Association endorses Cold War Medal
Reunion of the Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc.
6-9 October 2005, Tucson, Arizona
RESOLUTION No. 100805:
The Awarding of the Cold War Service Medal
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces of the United States of America (USA) confronted and engaged the forces of worldwide Communism continuously from the end of World War II until the dissolve of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), constituting the extended time period of 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America, throughout this prolonged time period, depended upon its citizen volunteers and draftees to perform national military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to defend the USA and its allies from Communist aggression; and
WHEREAS the collapse of the USSR constituted the greatest military success for American arms and the US Armed Forces since the end of the Second World War; and
WHEREAS, those Americans who honorably served in the US Armed Forces during Cold War without explicit recognition, should now be recognized with a service medal;
Now, therefore, let it be by the Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc. in assembly during the General Membership meeting of 8 October 2005, that the Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc. beseeches the members of the United States Congress to authorize the awarding of a Cold War Service Medal to honorably recognize all Armed Forces military personnel who served on active duty during the period 2 September 1945 through 26 December 1991, and thereby recognize their military service during the Cold War, America's longest war.
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