The cold War Recognition Certificate is a recognition certificate awarded by the Secretary of Defense to all U. S. Armed Forces personnel and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. Anyone who served in the military or the Federal Government during this period is authorized to receive the certificate. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen has approved a Cold War Recognition Certificate for award to all members of the armed forces and federal government civilian employees who faithfully served the United States during the Cold War era, Sept. 2, 1945, to Dec. 26, 1991. Congress established the Cold War certificate in Section 1084 of the fiscal 1998 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation states in part: The Congress finds the following: "During the period of the the Cold War, from the end of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a global military rivalry." "This rivalry, potentially the most dangerous military confrontation in the history of mankind, has come to a close without a direct superpower military conflict." "Military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense, personnel in the intelligence community, members of the foreign service, and other officers and employees of the United States faithfully performed their duties during the Cold War." "Many such personnel performed their duties while isolated from family and friends and served overseas under frequently arduous conditions in order to protect the United States and achieve a lasting peace." "The discipline and dedication of those personnel were fundamental to the prevention of a superpower military conflict." The Department of Defense designated the Department of the Army as the executive agent for the Cold War Recognition Certificate program. The Army has established a home page at http://coldwar.army.mil that explains the correct procedures to request a Cold War Certificate. As previously announced, requests will be accepted by Internet, fax or mail, beginning today. Individuals who request the certificate must certify that they served both faithfully and honorably, whether as a member of the U.S. armed forces or as a federal civilian employee during the Cold War era. Each mailed or faxed request must be accompanied by official documentation verifying government service during the Cold War era. Acceptable documentation includes any government form that includes the applicant's name and social security number or military service number or foreign service number, and the date of service. Applicants should not send original documents to verify federal service because the documents will not be returned to the sender. The mailing address for requests for the certificate is: Cold War Recognition 4035 Ridge Top Road Suite 400 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 The fax number is (703) 275-6749. The electronic mail address is coldwar@fairfax-emh1.army.mil. Requests sent by eMail will not be acted upon until the Fairfax office receives supporting documentation. Requests made on-line will be maintained for one year to allow ample time for individuals to forward supporting documents by fax or mail. Individuals normally will receive a response within 30 days; however, the turnaround time will depend upon the volume of requests received.