For many years Cold War Veterans haven’t received the recognition they deserve Mayor Frank Picozzi, Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson and others said on Veterans outside Warwick Veterans Middle School. 

It's why last Thursday, Vella-Wilkinson, Picozzi and other City and State elected officials honored Cold War Veterans by unveiling a medallion which will be affixed to a stone at Veterans Park which is located outside the Middle School. 

“When I was a child there were three groups of veterans that just really didn’t get their due. Korean Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, and Cold War Veterans. The first two groups we’ve taken giant strides towards rectifying the recognition they did not get. But Cold War Veterans and female veterans haven’t so this is a great first step.”

The guest speaker for the event was Cold War Veteran Sal Caiozzo. He served in the Army as a military police officer from 1981 to 1983. He now serves as the commander of the Warwick Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. 

“For over 245 years and counting, our veterans have held the line on our ideals, allowing us to pave a way for a new and better tomorrow,” Caiozzo said. “Yet there is one war that came at a great cost, but often goes unnoticed. A war of blood, sweat, and tears that put nations on edge for generations – over 45 long years – that often gets recognized as little more than a footnote in history.”

He was referring to the Cold War. 

“To some, the Cold War is simply a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies following World War II and lasting until Dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991,” Caiozzo said. “But those who have a deeper appreciation for our history, or who have lived it, know the flashpoint for the Cold War happened much earlier than that. With the October Revolution of 1917 - when the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia - seen as a major flashpoint, the Cold War was not merely based around the ideological and geopolitical struggle for global influence by two major superpowers following World War II. The Cold War was seen as an imminent threat to global civilization itself.”

The Veterans Day event came a day after Gov. Dan McKee went to Holliman Elementary School to sign legislation that will extend property tax exemptions to veterans who served during the Cold War. Previously state law gave a property tax exemption, which varies by municipality, to veterans going back to the Spanish-American War. The bill extends the exemption to any member who served in uniform during the Cold War between 1947 through 1991, even if they did not serve in a declared war or conflict.

Vella-Wilkinson was the prime sponsor of the bill. 

She said last week that the medallion that is currently on the rock is a replica noting that they weren’t able to get the official one in time but wanted to make sure they had a celebration on the holiday. 

“It's Veterans Day and if we're going to honor Veterans, let's do it on this special day,” she said. 

Vella-Wilkinson thanked Rick Cascella, Chair of the Warwick Republican City Committee for donating the rock, which will have the medallion, affixed to it. 

“And people say that Democrats and Republicans can’t work together. Not in Warwick we work together,” Vella-Wilkinson said in a lighthearted moment. 

Caiozzo, at the end of his remarks said he is hopeful that young people will be able to learn more about the history of the Cold War. 

“Unfortunately, entire generations of young Americans have become unaware of the true nature and history of the Cold War and the dangers of Communism, its history, its effects on human freedom and growth as a society, and the many lives it cost to ensure our victory,” Caiozzo said. As a veteran myself, I implore you to teach the young generations the importance of the Cold War. Tell them to thank the veterans who served during this period and help them understand that the sacrifices of yesterday gave us the freedom we enjoy today.”