Cold War Recognition Certificate

The Cold War Recognition Certificate was a recognition certificate awarded by the Secretary of Defense to all U.S. Armed Forces personnel and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.^[1][2] Congress established the Cold War certificate in Section 1084 of the fiscal 1998 National Defense Authorization Act.

Every war fought by the United States, was honored by a medal issued to those members authorized and who displayed honorable service. It is also noteworthy that anyone who had served in the military or the Federal Government during the Cold War would be authorized to receive this certificate. One who worked as a seasonal employee for the US Postal Service would be authorized.

Cold War Certificate

Some of the States, via the National Guard, authorize an award of the Cold War Victory Medal or a ribbon. The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States has officially adopted the medal in recognition of those who served during the Cold War. Thus U.S. Armed Forces retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees who served honorably during the Cold War may augment their certificate by privately purchasing and wearing the medal solely on civilian attire. The recent trend has been that retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees have purchased the medal and wear it for public holidays, in parades and functions.^{[citation needed]}) In this regard, the precedence of the medal is immediately following the lowest authorized medal. But the medal is not authorized for wear on any U.S. Armed Forces active duty uniform. If a member of the National Guard has been awarded the medal it must be removed from uniform if called to active service, under Title 10 of the United States Code, with other regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Once the National Guard member is no longer on active service under Title 10 the medal may be worn on the Guard uniform in their State.

The Department of Defense designated the Department of the Army as the executive agent for the Cold War Recognition Certificate program. The Army has established a home page at https://coldwar.army.mil that explains the correct procedures to request a Cold War Certificate.

References

1. ^ 578.137 Cold War Recognition Certificate
2. ^ U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) COLD WAR RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE APPROVED News Release, April 05, 1999.

External links

• http://www.189thahc.org/coldwarcertificate.html