Op-Ed: Rep. Beth Van Duyne: Valor is earned, and it should never be stolen
Rep. Beth Van Duyne writes about the heroes of North Texas, and why they inspired her to introduce the Valor Earned Not Stolen Act.
North Texas is home to over 300,000 veterans whom we recognize and thank each and every Veterans’ Day. These brave men and women upheld their Oath to protect and preserve our Constitution, secured our God-given liberties, served our country with distinction, and wore the uniform with honor.
I’ve had the privilege of spending time getting to know many of these heroic veterans, marveled by their acts of bravery, and humbled by the sacrifices they made for their brothers in arms as well as the country we hold so dear. Hearing how they performed under the direst of circumstances, with no regard for the peril they faced, is a constant reminder we are blessed with heroes who truly understand the freedom so many Americans take for granted is not at all free. Instead, every generation has been called to make a stand for America, man the breach so others may be saved, and earn the freedom that makes our nation shine above all others — our freedom is earned, just like the commendations and honors of our nation’s heroes who have sacrificed so much for all of us.
Last Friday, I met with many of our distinguished veterans at our annual Congressional Veteran Commendation ceremony, where we honor the heroes of the 24th District of Texas and preserve their stories so future generations may learn from their example and be inspired to serve a nation that has brought more freedom and prosperity to more people than any in the history of mankind. Among some of our honored veterans were stories that truly exemplify the best of North Texas and our American tradition of courage under fire and daring beyond measure.
Lieutenant Colonel Don Munson, of Coppell, led soldiers through Vietnam, never losing a single man under his command. He earned the Silver Star for capturing three enemy combatants under fire and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in extracting stranded soldiers despite an intense enemy attack. Sergeant Larry Kellogg, of Coppell, suffered severe injuries from a rocket-propelled grenade. He saved his fellow soldiers’ lives before losing consciousness from blood loss — his selfless actions earned him the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart. Sergeant Eric Newton, of Colleyville, was wounded by shrapnel while shielding other soldiers during a mortar attack, which earned him a Purple Heart, and he has remained a lifelong advocate for veterans in our North Texas community.
Their acts of heroism are shining examples of the valor we seek to celebrate and memorialize by awarding commendations for their actions under fire.
Sadly, not all who claim to have been awarded these honors deserve such recognition. I’ve heard from veterans and their families across North Texas about civilians claiming to have earned military recognition they were never due. More disgracefully, some have even used those false claims to receive government benefits meant for true heroes who put their lives on the line so we could prosper under their blanket of freedom. These despicable individuals were not only lying about their service, but they were also defrauding the government, stealing benefits and honors meant for a courageous few who faced unimaginable dangers as true heroes of our armed forces. Such acts of dishonestly claiming military honors, especially to receive unwarranted benefits, are not only disgraceful, but they must not be tolerated and severely punished lest we cheapen the self-sacrifice of true American heroes.
That is why, earlier this year, I reintroduced the Valor Earned Not Stolen Act to punish those who dishonestly and parasitically feed off our nation’s love for the heroes who have served in the defense of America. My legislation increases the maximum penalty for an individual who falsely claims to be the recipient of a military decoration or medal, with the intent to obtain government funding or benefits. My intent is to ensure all taxpayer money allocated to our veterans is going to those who have earned it and not to those who have made false claims in order to steal it.
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 made it a federal crime for an individual to fraudulently represent themselves to have earned military decorations or medals with the intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, with a punishment of up to one year in prison. The Valor Earned Not Stolen Act increases the maximum penalty for Stolen Valor from one year to three years in prison, putting it in line with the penalty for impersonating a public official. My legislation also requires the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on how often Stolen Valor leads to fraudulent payouts and to recommend ways to stop it from happening in the future.
The Valor Earned Not Stolen Act isn’t just about enforcement, but about preserving the bond of trust between our nation and those who have sacrificed so much to defend it. True valor is earned through acts of heroism, self-sacrifice, and putting oneself in harm’s way so others may live. Falsely claiming such merit to earn taxpayer-funded benefits is not only illegal and dishonorable, it is the polar opposite of what these benefits were intended to honor and why we should increase the penalty for such a despicable act.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne represents Texas’s 24th District in Congress.