Why is doing something that is offensive, but totally harmless, illegal?
I’m guessing that you never served or you wouldn’t be asking.
No, it’s NOT totally harmless. It cheapens and demeans those who actually were awarded those medals for extraordinary effort and heroism under fire. And too many people who never even served call themselves Vietnam veterans. Some do it because it became “chic” to do so; others because there are some financial benefits for being a veteran, being a war veteran, and for having been awarded medals for heroism. They are guilty of a MOST serious crime and fraud on businesses, the government and other veterans. I recall that a JUDGE who had never served called himself a Vietnam veteran and said he had won some prestigious medal WHEN IT WAS ALL A SHAM. He was recalled and thrown out of office. Not long ago someone was exposed as a fraud when he passed himself off as a retired Marine Major General. He was a retired Marine, that’s OK, but he had retired as a Gunnery Sergeant and was NEVER AN OFFICER.
One person, back at Walter Reed Hospital, was there for some illness or other. He passed himself off as combat wounded to partake in activities and goodies specifically earmarked FOR the wounded coming back from the war zone. I think he went to jail, and rightly so.
It’s many things to pretend you are a decorated war veteran, but harmless it’s NOT.
Fraud is a crime.
It’s not always harmless by any means, that’s why I’m guessing.
A medal is bestowed by the US military. It is a credential. A degree, of sorts. It symbolizes a personal accomplishment which deserves to be rewarded and honored.
Wearing an unearned medal is similar to claiming a college degree which has not been earned.
It is fraud, and it is a particularly offensive flavor of fraud to all of us who honor our military.
I was never in the military, but let me offer an opinion.
Medals are awarded by officers. Officers are appointed by the Commander-in-Chief and confirmed by the Senate, unless delegated the power to directly appoint junior officers (Article I Section 2 Clause 2).
By wearing a medal that was not confered by the military, that is the equivalent of perjuring oneself to Congress.
-PJ
It is more than offensive.
It is definitely NOT harmless.
It is, and should be illegal.
Read "Stolen Valor" by Burkett and you might understand.