Stolen Valor Act (anti Wannabees)

[Berta]

From Colonel Dan Cedusky email:

WASHINGTON - A bill mandating tougher punishment for military imposters

gained final approval from the House on Wednesday, and will now go to the

president to be signed into law.

The legislation, dubbed the "stolen valor act," calls for up to six months

in prison for anyone who falsely claims to have earned a military honor, and

up to a year in prison for fraudulently wearing a Purple Heart, Silver Star

or other high military honor.

Both crimes would also be classified as felonies, which can carry additional

penalties such as limits on gun ownership and disqualification from certain

public offices, depending on the state.

Under current law, anyone caught wearing a military medal they did not earn

faces a misdemeanor charge and up to six months in prison, but law

enforcement can't do anything to someone simply displaying or claiming to

have earned the honor.

House officials on Wednesday said the change closes that critical loophole

and helps protect the integrity of the military awards.

"These frauds have diminished the honor of our military heroes," said Rep.

John Salazar, D-Colo., who introduced the original version of the measure.

"They use it to gain credibility for themselves, and often go on to commit

even worse crimes."

Along with cases of individuals using the fake medals to gain speaking

engagements and community leadership roles, Salazar referenced crimes

committed in 2004 by retired Marine Sgt. Gary Lakis, who claimed fake combat

experience and nonexistent Silver Stars in order to gain $66 million in

defense contracts to provide training to the service.

The military revoked those contracts once Lakis was found to be lying about

much of his military career, but he fled the country before FBI

investigators could arrest him and charge him with fraud.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., said awards such as the Purple Heart "hold a

deeper meaning and value for servicemen that far outweighs their monetary

worth," and called the bill a chance to honor the sacrifice of all troops by

preserving the military's legacy.

The tougher penalties are backed by a number of veterans groups, including

the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

As of late last week, supporters thought the bill likely wouldn't pass this

session because of House Republican leadership's resistance to moving a

measure proposed by Salazar, a first-term Democrat.

The measure approved yesterday was a nearly identical bill sponsored by Sen.

Kent Conrad, D-N.D., which was approved by the full Senate in September.

The White House has not released any timetable for when the bill could be

signed into law.

C 2006 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved.

Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed

by Senate)

S 1998 ES

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1998

[dman001948]

I won't use this forum to debate this anymore then it has been, However, if anyone would like to continue the debate and keep an open mind and not in a state of denial. My E-mail address dman00194875@msn.com.

Dennis Rick

[LarryJ]

"I don't believe that since Ike was President has there been a true soldier in office and one can probally find fault in him if you dig hard enough."

I don't believe that he was ever shot AT, or mortared, or if he ever "fired a shot in defense of himself or others". Albeit, he was a pretty cool custome and a good CO from what I can gather. And, he was shaggin with a Limey girl, so that makes him Okay in my books.

I like Limey girls (and Aussie lasses, also). :D

[Stretch]

A little genealogy:

My ggg grandfathers' first name, was Byrd. Back then sometimes, some children, would be given their name from their mothers maiden name. His mother was married, to my gggg granddad in NC. It is my opinion that Byrd, fought in the Battle of New Orleans. He moved from NC, to WV, to Virginia, and finally to Alabama where he is buried.

Three of Byrds' sons fought in the Civil War, my gg grandfather Henry Harrison, was one of the sons (Alabama 18th regiment Co. B, Alabama infantry) JB (Jesse Byrd) and Harmon were the others. My family has fought in every war. Many more, of my family from Alabama, fought in the Civil on both sides, but mostly on one side from Alabama. There two other complete lines of our family are in Florida, and Tennessee. The Tennessee line was the biggest part of the family. Needless to say there were many, from my family, who fought.

It is very simple to look up these things. I try, very hard, to make statements that I have researched my self, and statements that I can Validate. Some times I have to dig out the information myself because there is no paper work, sometimes there is.

It is just like Terry said, "If your parents didn't have any children, then you will not have any children either."

West Virginia Senator Byrd. (our, Veterans friend)

http://www.vawatchdog.org/nfDEC06/nf121206-3.htm

Back in the early history, of our country, when two s's are together, in a word, the first s, in the ss, was written as a funny looking fJ symbol in our names. Look at the constitution to see this. Thomas Jefferson did the funny symbol for first S in the SS (ƒ), it is an English thing.

My gggg grandfather, Howell, was given land by President Monroe 1820, I think it was in Virgina, because they gave land grants to soldiers back then.

Here is the two SS's in this document as well as census including Byrd's registration back in 1830's.

Here is my ggg grand uncle, ggg grand aunt b. 1822 (who married a Malloy), and gg grand-daddy's grave markers.

This was Jesse Byrd Jr., Jesse Byrds son.

This is my gg grandmother, who was an Indian woman with the maiden name of Smith, you could never believe who here grand-parents were. Back then Indian women weren't thought highly of. My family objects to changing history, so gg grandma will be stuck with the bricks.

My family is both famous and infamous, but what the heck does that matter.

Facts are what it is all about.

Edited December 13, 2006 by Stretch