Pentagon Launches Website to Stop Bogus Medal Winners
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Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Unscrupulous people will be less inclined to fake medals won in the military because of a new website launched by the Pentagon on Wednesday.
The White House and Congress were taken aback after a recent Supreme Court ruling that tossed out the Stolen Valor Act. While admitting that pretending to be a military hero is reprehensible, the judges maintained that it’s protected free speech and fakers should not be subject to fines or jail time.
But according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, “One of the most important things we can do for all veterans is to honor the service of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.”
Therefore, the new site will list only those who have legitimately won special honors for displaying valor while in armed forces.
It will begin with Medal of Honor recipients and then gradually add other honors including the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy and Air Force service crosses.
That way, people who seek to fudge their resume might think twice about it if there’s a list that can expose them as frauds.
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