By: Van de Putte S.R. No. 51
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Between the surrender of Japan on September 2,
1945, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 25
through 26, 1991, the world witnessed a period of military,
economic, and ideological confrontation known as the Cold War;
and
WHEREAS, Although the Cold War never erupted into a
full-scale armed conflict between the world's superpowers, it
gave impetus to a number of localized hot wars, as well as to a
massive military buildup on the part of both the United States
and the Soviet Union; the consequent demands on the United States
military personnel were often arduous and dangerous; and
WHEREAS, In the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2002, the congress authorized the United States
Department of Defense to issue a Cold War Service Medal, to be
given to each member of the United States military who served
satisfactorily on active duty during the Cold War era; the
Department of Defense has refused, however, to create such an
award; instead, since 1999, the department has made available a
Cold War Recognition Certificate, to be given to those who served
during the Cold War either as a member of the armed forces or as a
federal employee; and
WHEREAS, Cold War veterans believe that this certificate
scarcely suffices to recognize the sacrifices they bore or the
service they rendered; since the certificate was first offered,
the American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers Association, Combat
Infantrymen's Association, Cold War Veterans Association, and
AMVETS have all expressed the desire that service in the Cold War
be honored with an official medal; and
WHEREAS, A medal that honors service similar to that of
Cold War veterans already exists and, if made available to those
veterans, would both pay them the tribute they are owed and
resolve the Pentagon's concern about the cost of issuing a new
award; the American Defense Service Medal, created by Executive
Order 8808, is given to service personnel who served between
September 8, 1939, following the outbreak of war in Europe, and
December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor; as during the
Cold War, the United States military spent this period bracing
for armed hostilities; and
WHEREAS, A precedent for expanding the dates of
eligibility for the American Defense Service Medal exists with
the National Defense Service Medal; initially awarded for
service during the period of the Korean War, the National Defense
Service Medal was subsequently awarded for service during the
period of the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and
the Global War on Terror; and
WHEREAS, The heraldry, order of precedence, and related
issues pertaining to the American Defense Service Medal have
already been settled; the only change in the medal that would be
required would be the removal of the original dates of
eligibility, which are presently engraved on the reverse;
removing these dates will also facilitate the reopening of this
award for service during a similar period of emergency in the
future; and
WHEREAS, There is little doubt that Cold War veterans will
prefer to purchase the American Defense Service Medal as opposed
to unofficial commemorative medals, which are not authorized to
be worn on uniforms, thus significantly reducing the cost to the
defense department for providing this award; and
WHEREAS, Those who served in the United States Army, Navy,
Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard during the years of the Cold
War made an immeasurable contribution to the safety of this
country and its allies, and they are indeed deserving of
appropriate recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
Legislature, hereby respectfully urge the president of the
United States to modify Executive Order 8808 so as to award the
American Defense Service Medal to United States armed forces
personnel who served on active duty in the period after September
1, 1945, and before December 27, 1991; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward an
official copy of this resolution to the president of the United
States.
_______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on January 28, 2009.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate