Should Cold War Veterans be allowed to join the American Legion and the VFW?

Legion yes. I think VFW requires service in a foreign war or action.

I think so. You go where you are sent do what you're told. I encourage all Cold War vets to visit coldwarveterans.com. You can join the Cold War Veterans Association.

Nope, VFW has a different membership base and should stay that way.

I definitely think they should be able to join the American Legion. I also think there should be a Cold War Victory Medal. You can't help it that there was no shooting war when you joined. But you offered you service to you country.

Cold war veterans? yes, The American Legion ... check out their site http://www.legion.org/join
VFW? you had to go to war... check out http://www.vfw.org/Join/Eligibility/
otherwise... No.
note, these are the OFFICIAL sites, anybody who tells you differently is selling you Lokshen.

SGT Nathaniel Hiller, I think these organizations are free to set up their eligibility criteria and if one meets the criteria, then the individual can join.

SSgt (Join to see)

If you have a National Defense Service Medal you qualify for the Legion otherwise the AmVets

I have no desire to join any organization that qualifies itself as an "elite" group (from VFW website). I grew up in Berlin in the 1960's. There was gunfire outside my school in Zehlendorf after the dogs barked and sirens went off indicating an escape attempt. Communists fired into West Berlin - they cut off food and water at will, had their Soviet bloc students at the Free University riot downtown, turning it into a combat zone. The Russians fired artillery periodically and drilled their tanks for lengthy periods to harass us, and their Migs would perform mock strafing missions or fly low at supersonic speeds so we were the recipients of sonic booms. My school was a haven for political refugees, including people who had escaped from the East and were in danger of being kidnapped and brought back into the DDR. They threatened us with invasions periodically, and performed a large number of kidnappings including in broad daylight in shopping areas. We had units deployed that went into the East - walking around a communist country while looking to blend in is harrowing and not for the faint of heart. I have been chased by communist soldiers with evil intent, and listened as Pan Am changed the story surrounding the shooting down of a new Pan Am 727 by the Russians in retaliation for the US not returning a late model Mig from a defecting Soviet pilot. We watched as Russian Migs buzzed our planes for the pure fun of it, watched their massive displays of military power, and rooted for our military and other intelligence units when they were performing missions under war conditions. Berlin when I was there was a hot Cold War - make no mistake on that. For people to be excluded from being involved at that location while a PX clerk who gets a campaign ribbon is welcomed is just plain stupid. The Russians displayed their extensive collection of WMD's in support of their stated intention to take over the world. We had biological and chemical warfare extensions from Nazi and Jap research during WW2, and threw in nuclear threats at the same time.
I was at the call-up of a National Guard unit when it being readied to be shipped to Afghanistan. We were there to help with legal or other problems, and VFW was only interested in signing up Guardsmen before they went overseas. I have the same problem when WWF decided to ignore all veterans pre 9/11. I was asked to meet with AL executives in DC to work on a national employment initiative. I finally found the individual in charge, and his only interest was in asking me what unit I served in and that he was in the toughest unit in Viet Nam. Watching hard-earned dues support intransigence is just not acceptable to me in any form.

SGT Nathaniel Hiller,

Yes. But, I'm pretty sure any veteran is eligible for the American Legion.

I am a Cold War era veteran as well as post Cold War. I have been deployed to several hot locations. The VFW is Veterans of Foreign Wars. It must have been recognized as campaign ribbon/medal tour for VFW or CIB/CFMB.