The Cold War Medal

Criteria and Background:

Inspired by the Cold War Recognition Certificate created by Section 1084 of Public Law 105-85, approved on November 18, 1987. The official certificate is to recognize "members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the Government who served the United States during the Cold War." While congress did not specifically authorize a medal for Federal service during the Cold War, this medal has been adopted as the de-facto official Cold War Medal, mainly by its use by State National Guards, along with military and patriotic societies, including being recognized as the official medal of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

The Cold War Medal was designed by Nadine Russell, the Chief of Creative Heraldry at the Army's Institute of Heraldry and the designer of many campaign and service medals, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal.

The Criteria for the medal is to have served honorably between the inclusive dates of September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991