Two Florida congressmen are reaching across the aisle, teaming up to crack down on a Chinese company selling replicas of American military medals.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder noting that Alibaba, a Chinese company, is selling replicas of various military medals and decorations, including the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross.
The honorable service, commitment, and sacrifice of our dedicated service men and women are the reasons we have our freedoms and liberties, Yoho said. These medals reflect their dedication and sacrifice.
We ask the attorney general to conduct an investigation and request that Alibaba stop providing the marketplace for the sale of these sacred medals, Yoho added. Anyone producing replicas of these hard-earned medals and decorations is showing disrespect to the true value and meaning of these honors. We ask the Justice Department, respectfully, to do all it can to shut this practice down.
This activity is utterly disrespectful and an insult to the brave men and women of the armed forces and their families whose sacrifices these awards represent, said Murphy. I look forward to working with Rep. Yoho and the Department of Justice to address this issue.
In their letter to Holder, Yoho and Murphy made their case as to why the Department of Justice needs to crack down on Alibaba.
We are outraged and dismayed that Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce company, is selling replica military medals and decorations, the congressmen wrote. The sale of these military items is a slap in the face to our service members, veterans, and military families who have made extraordinary sacrifices to earn these awards.
As you know, it is unlawful to manufacture and sell any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States. This includes replicas, the congressmen addded. The Alibaba website makes available for purchase identical replicas of these military awards, including the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross, and the Purple Heart.
Yoho and Murphy looked to press Holder on the matter.
We know you believe as we do that the valor and heroism of our nations bravest are earned and should not be peddled on a Chinese website, the congressmen wrote. Do you share our interpretation that the sale of these military awards and decorations is illegal? If so, what actions has the Department of Justice taken to investigate Alibaba? What additional actions will be taken, and how can the Congress support your efforts? Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your timely response.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
