Cold War Patriots hosting ‘Day of Rememberance’
Cold War Patriots (CWP), a community resource organization that is the nation’s strongest and most sustained voice advocating for nuclear weapons and uranium worker benefits, will commemorate the 10th Annual Official Cold War Patriots National Day of Remembrance™ in October with events across the country.
The Day of Rememberance will be held in Oak Ridge on Oct. 26.
Each year, the U.S. Senate passes a bipartisan resolution that designates Oct. 30 as a day to honor the contributions and sacrifices of the more than one million Americans who worked with uranium or in the nation’s nuclear weapons complex from its origins with the Manhattan Project during World War II to the present day. Two former Secretaries of Energy – Donald Hodel, who served in the Reagan administration, and Gov. Bill Richardson, who served in the Clinton administration before being elected Governor of New Mexico – are Honorary Co-Chairs for this year’s Official National Day of Remembrance.
At the events, workers will be able to reconnect and socialize with co-workers. Congressional and/or local dignitaries will speak at each event. There will also be a candle-lighting ceremony to remember fallen workers. CWP will recognize those who served by distributing 10th anniversary commemorative lapel pins to the workers. The pins are recommissioned from a pin originally awarded to workers on the Manhattan Project by the Secretary of War. Men and women who worked in the nuclear weapons and uranium industry will be given a bronze pin. Silver pins will be given to workers who have experienced some level of health-related illness due to their work.