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Bucks Official Wants Military Medal Sellers To Require Buyer's Proof of Service

By Brad Segall

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- An official in Bucks County believes he has a way to prevent people from holding themselves out as decorated members of the military even if they never served.

Dan Fraley, the county's director of veterans affairs, says it's time to tighten up the federal "Stolen Valor" law, which makes it a crime for someone to claim, for financial gain, that they were awarded any of nearly a dozen medals or decorations.

"You know, you can go online and buy them," he tells KYW Newsradio.  "I mean, they are usually under ten dollars. (Or) community Army-Navy stores.  You can usually just go out and buy those."

Fraley says it's time to restrict the sale of those awards by requiring a veteran to show their discharge papers with honors earned.  That's how it's done in  Bucks County when a veteran wants a discount ID card.

"You don't want to make it that difficult for the individual that earned a Silver Star to go out and get a replacement if he or she would lose that medal," he notes.

The issue came to light last week when a veteran confronted a man in the Oxford Valley Mall and questioned him about his service. The video went viral on social media.

 

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