Honoring America’s forgotten Cold War heroes

As Americans, we have a long and storied tradition of honoring the millions of men and women who have served our country throughout generations of armed conflict.  We have built memorials and museums, issued medals, and designated national holidays to commemorate our veterans’ service and ensure that their legacy will live on for generations to come. 

There also lie heroes that time has forgotten – whose names and actions are not written in the text of history books or etched into the walls of memorials. Millions of brave service members whose commitment to our nation ended the Cold War, after more than forty years. They worked quietly, or behind the scenes but prevented the world from dovetailing into nuclear war.  

{mosads}While the world was focused on wars raging in places like Korea and Vietnam, these men and women worked tirelessly to ensure that the tens of thousands of nuclear missiles the United States and the Soviet Union had aimed at each other’s shores were never launched. They served on remote B-52 bomber bases, maintained missile silos, defended checkpoints and gathered intelligence in order to save our nation, and the world, from the devastating consequences of a nuclear catastrophe. 

The Cold War ended on December 26, 1991, but our heroes received no parades, celebrations or even so much as a public thank you. Although there were no major battles or combat over the forty-four year span of the Cold War, it is what these men and women prevented from happening that deserves our highest honor and appreciation. 

It is long past time that our Cold War veterans receive the proper recognition that they deserve. While Democrats and Republicans rarely agree on much in Washington these days, honoring our veterans is an issue that transcends party lines. That is why we have reached across the aisle to introduce legislation that will award a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War. 

The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 (H.R. 2067) authorizes the Secretary of Defense to issue medals to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were honorably discharged after having served on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War, deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during those years, or performed other Cold War service as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe. 

We urge our colleagues to bring this legislation to the floor of the House for a vote. We owe it to Cold War veterans and their families to show them the respect and appreciation for their valor and the silent sacrifices they made to protect our country and our freedom. It is never too late to right a wrong, and presenting these men and women with the medal they have earned is the least we can do to honor their courage and their sacrifice.   

Without them, the war that never was, could have been the war to end all wars. 

Israel represents New York’s 3^rd Congressional District and has served in the House since 2001. He sits on the Appropriations Committee. Jolly has represented Florida’s 13^th Congressional District since 2014. He sits on the Appropriations Committee.