it's complicated

  A small time back I saw an advertisement for a "Cold War" certificate. It wasn't really an advertisement I guess more like a short story. Anyway, in the story was the link to apply for this certificate. I went there and it all seemed legit enough, you do have to check these things carefully. So, I filled the form out and a copy of my DD-214 was required. I did hesitate a bit before scanning that and including that information. The web address was an "https" indicating it is a secure site and it was a part of the department of defense. The other day that certificate came in the mail. It is a Certificate of Recognition for my service during the "Cold War" which lasted from 2 Sept 1945 until 26 December 1991. It states I was promoting peace and stability for this nation. Yeah, I did that. 

 The date of 2 September 1945 was chosen as the beginning of the cold war because on that day the Japanese signed the formal surrender onboard USS Missouri. WW2 was over but all wasn't well in the world. The soviets didn't want to play nice. The tensions began on that day. On the 26th of December in 1991 the flag of The USSR was lowered marking the end to that nation. The "cold war" was over. But, not really, only on paper it would seem. Today that nation is called Russia. It's complicated. New allies and alliances are being formed and tensions remain. Still, the lowering of the flag of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic was a milestone in history. It was the first nation in history based on Communism. It contained 14 other nations at its' height. 

 I requested that certificate for a simple reason. It wasn't because I wanted another certificate to put on my wall. I do have a good number of them from my twenty-year career. You just kind of gather them along the way. The vast majority just mark some milestone or achievement. And that is what this certificate is all about I suppose. I asked for it because its' my feeling they won't be as plentiful or as common as all the others I have. I admit I had to smile reading the article about the cold war and my entitlement to recognition. I got a "participation" award! I have to say during my time in the service I never thought I was in a war, a cold war. It didn't feel like a war.

 I was issued a National Defense Ribbon, with corresponding medal, while in boot camp. That was because the Vietnam war was still in progress at that time. On the 30th of April in 1975 that war ended. I was onboard Uss Yellowstone AD-41 at the time. There wasn't much of a fuss made about that. No parades, no celebrations, nothing like that. Just another day onboard ship. Later I would say, I ended the Vietnam war. Still later I was awarded the National Defense Medal for a second time for Desert Sheild/Desert Storm. Was there when all that ended too. The Gulf War.  Now, I'm saying I ended the cold war too! Three wars in twenty years time! 

 That certificate was first authorized in 1998. I had been retired for five years by that time. I had never heard about it until this year. I wonder if everyone in the service was issued that certificate. I would expect so. Perhaps another ceremony to present that certificate to the crew! Hated going to all those ceremonies, standing there, being bored while some officer ran his mouth. The only one I wanted to go to was my retirement ceremony. I did that. It was kind of neat getting just one more certificate, however. I got to post it to Facebook and everything. It wasn't until 2004 that Facebook even existed on the internet. Yeah, I participated and have the certificate to prove it! I'm amused. That certificate is suitable for framing, and I will do so. A piece of history. What war? The cold war! But wasn't that when everyone was concerned about global warming? Well yes, it's complicated.