"Stolen Valor"

Lately I have been reading articles and watching videos on “stolen valor” and I wanted to look into where it came from and how it became a law. Many people have seen the videos on YouTube of soldiers calling out frauds dressed in uniform with medals in public places. Websites such as Extreme Seal Experience and the Fake Warriors Project seek after and report citizens impersonating military personnel in an effort to stop fraud and “stolen valor”.

In 2005 president George W.  Bush signed into affect the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 and defines “stolen valor” as a person who “falsely represents himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States,” the act also states that these claims “damage the reputation and meaning of such decorations and medals.” In reference to the “Medal of Honor, the distinguished-service cross, the Navy cross, the Air Force cross, the Purple Heart, and other decorations and medals awarded by the President or the Armed Forces of the United States”

In the Supreme Court case of United States vs. Alverez the Supreme Court found the Act to be unconstitutional and effectively took away its ability to protect against “stolen valor”. This is when veterans and civilians alike took matters into their own hands by publicly shaming frauds and creating websites that allows you to check the credentials of someone claiming to have served in the military.

In 2013 President Barack Obama amended the Stolen Valor Act stating that “Whoever, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds oneself out to be a recipient of a decoration or medal described in subsection (c)(2) or (d) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.''.

I think that it’s crazy that people would impersonate military personnel and steal their valor; it’s shameful to even claim to be military if you’re not. Every day soldiers put their lives on the line to protect our rights and the rights of people all around the world, good men and women have died serving this country from the beginning of its foundation and you want to claim that you have sacrificed what they have. If you want to be seen as a military hero so badly then why not join? Or volunteer in some way to help? There are other ways to help protect this country and be seen as a “hero”.