Letter: City officials throw cold water on cold war vets (Printed March 30, 2007)
Posted by Sentry Editor at 4/5/2007 7:51 AM 
Categories: State News, So Po News, Letters to the editor, History
Categories: State News, So Po News, Letters to the editor, History
Editor:
It appears our city wants to forget about the Cold War, “Our Longest War.” It was not a declared war, that is true, but our military was armed and ready at all times to fight Communisim.
Governor Baldacci has issued a proclamation declaring May 1st as Cold War Victory Day 2007. At the present time there is also a bill LD111 in the Maine State Legislature that would make this a day of recognition every year.
Two of our council members have decided that it is not something to be considered. They claim that it might diminish what our troops now engaged in the war in Irag, Iran Afghanistan are facing.
That is not the wish of the Cold War Veterans Association at all. We do not want to see anyone fighting a war in any place in the world at any time.
We feel the pain of the families that have lost loved ones, those who have been injured and maimed. We have contacted our national elected officials decrying the treatment of our wounded veterans at places such as Walter Reed Hospital, other Veterans Hospitals around the country. We gave our word to our military to help them and give them proper medical care, which is not happening. Once again America broke its word and promise.
Does anyone remember our planes being shot down near China and Korea? Our ships being attacked– USS Liberty, USS Puebelo, USS Stark and USS Cole? What about two submarines that just vanished into the deep? What about the Strategic Air Command with planes in the air carrying nuclear warheads? Air Raid Drills, fallout shelters in your backyard?
Russian submarines carrying nuclear weapons traversed both our coasts, coming with a few miles of our country. They were tracked every mile of the way. Our subs many times passed within a few feet of their subs, in fact there was a collision between one of their subs and one of ours. Our troops were in the Fulda Gap in Germany, facing Russian troops, on the DMZ in Korea. Of course we cannot forget Viet Nam, the Congo, Dominican Republic, Haiti, the list goes on and on.
Many lives were lost, and many people injured during this “time of peace,” but no one noticed. No one but the families of loved ones, those who served and placed their lives on the line to keep America Free. So I ask, since Governor Baldacci, the Maine Legislature seem to think this is a well deserved recognition for the millions of servicemen and servicewomen, should not our Fair City do the same?
Please contact your councilmember and ask them to reconsider and approve this, and make every May 1st Cold War Victory Day.
Jerald Terwilliger
Maine State Director, Cold War Veterans Assoc.
South Portland
It appears our city wants to forget about the Cold War, “Our Longest War.” It was not a declared war, that is true, but our military was armed and ready at all times to fight Communisim.
Governor Baldacci has issued a proclamation declaring May 1st as Cold War Victory Day 2007. At the present time there is also a bill LD111 in the Maine State Legislature that would make this a day of recognition every year.
Two of our council members have decided that it is not something to be considered. They claim that it might diminish what our troops now engaged in the war in Irag, Iran Afghanistan are facing.
That is not the wish of the Cold War Veterans Association at all. We do not want to see anyone fighting a war in any place in the world at any time.
We feel the pain of the families that have lost loved ones, those who have been injured and maimed. We have contacted our national elected officials decrying the treatment of our wounded veterans at places such as Walter Reed Hospital, other Veterans Hospitals around the country. We gave our word to our military to help them and give them proper medical care, which is not happening. Once again America broke its word and promise.
Does anyone remember our planes being shot down near China and Korea? Our ships being attacked– USS Liberty, USS Puebelo, USS Stark and USS Cole? What about two submarines that just vanished into the deep? What about the Strategic Air Command with planes in the air carrying nuclear warheads? Air Raid Drills, fallout shelters in your backyard?
Russian submarines carrying nuclear weapons traversed both our coasts, coming with a few miles of our country. They were tracked every mile of the way. Our subs many times passed within a few feet of their subs, in fact there was a collision between one of their subs and one of ours. Our troops were in the Fulda Gap in Germany, facing Russian troops, on the DMZ in Korea. Of course we cannot forget Viet Nam, the Congo, Dominican Republic, Haiti, the list goes on and on.
Many lives were lost, and many people injured during this “time of peace,” but no one noticed. No one but the families of loved ones, those who served and placed their lives on the line to keep America Free. So I ask, since Governor Baldacci, the Maine Legislature seem to think this is a well deserved recognition for the millions of servicemen and servicewomen, should not our Fair City do the same?
Please contact your councilmember and ask them to reconsider and approve this, and make every May 1st Cold War Victory Day.
Jerald Terwilliger
Maine State Director, Cold War Veterans Assoc.
South Portland
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