|
Just the opposite of my disappointment
with the government's Cold War Certificate, the still unofficial
Cold War Medal exceeded my expectations. At present the medal
is distributed exclusively by Foxfall Medals of Madison, VA,
and can be purchased through Foxfall.com. It would be an ideal
gift for any veteran who served between September 2, 1945, and
December 26, 1991.
The total price of the Foxfall package is about $30.00, which
includes the full-sized medal, ribbon bar, miniature-sized medal,
lapel pin, and shipping & handling. In addition, all of this
comes in a simulated-leather, hinged display box. Given the quality
of the items, the cost is an outstanding bargain.
The detail and craftsmanship of the this two-sided medal is exquisite.
It was designed by Nadine Russell, who, in literature that comes
with the box, is described as "... one of America's leading
medalists ... She has designed numerous military and civilian
medals for the U.S. Government ... Her work on this medal was
based on a great deal of research ... the design that resulted
from her efforts is both beautiful in appearance and rich in
symbolism."
The literature continues with: "The principal feature on
the front of the medal is an allegorical figure of Freedom, adapted
from the figures on the front of the World War I and World War
II Victory Medals. She sits on a vantage point overlooking a
landscape suggestive of the Fulda Gap in Germany, the anticipated
point of attack by Communist forces in Europe during the Cold
War."
The question remains: When will a medal be officially sanctioned
by the Department of Defense? Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas sponsored
legislation in 2001 that would create the Cold War Victory Medal
for those estimated 17 million veterans who served during the
era. Gramm also wanted to designate November 9th as Victory in
the Cold War Day. Support in Congress was expected to continue
to grow, but then came 9/11 and the Medal legislation has remained
in limbo ever since.
Unfortunately, there's no solid guarantee that the Russell-designed
medal and ribbon-bar as you see here (at right) will ever be
accepted by the Department of Defense as the official award,
if and when Congress acts. But historically many military medals
have been struck privately before being officially recognized.
As of 2008, the Russell design has no serious competition. |
Shown
to scale (from top): medal front; medal back; ribbon bar; miniature
medal; & lapel pin. |
|
COLD WAR MEDAL FEATURES THE FULDA GAP
The 3rd Armored Division's sector to defend in 1956-1991
Actual diameter size: 1 &
3/8 inch or 3.5 cm
Photo by Vic Damon, Web Staff
|
Ken Robinson, Web Staff, continues:
The Russell-designed Cold War Medal contains a subtle honoring
of the 3AD. According to literature that comes with the medal,
the designer chose for the background a landscape suggestive
of the Fulda Gap of Germany as "the anticipated point of
attack by Communist forces in Europe during the Cold War."
The Gap, of course, was the 3AD's to defend. In the above extreme
close-up of the medal, the symbolism includes the sun rising
over the Fulda Gap, signifying the end of the war. |
|