The New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) is issuing the New York State Cold War Certificate to eligible veterans.
The certificate may be awarded to any current New York State citizen, or to anyone who was a New York State citizen while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Cold War period of 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991, provided their entire service was honorable.
Eligibility is limited to those whose discharge shows service as “Honorable” (Honorable Discharge) or “Under Honorable Conditions” (General Discharge under Honorable Conditions). The certificate may be awarded posthumously to a designated survivor. Only one certificate will be issued per person; this is a one-time award.
To apply, visit the official DMNA page for complete instructions and forms:
https://dmna.ny.gov/awards/coldwar/
Applications use DMNA Form 105 (or Form 105-1 for posthumous requests). Supporting documentation, such as a copy of the DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22 showing New York residency and honorable service, is required. Do not send original documents.
Revised: 2 September 2026