[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E773]]



            HONORING THE BERLIN AIRLIFT GRATITUDE FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 1999

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Berlin 
Airlift Gratitude Foundation.
  The Berlin Airlift began on June 26, 1948. Hostilities increased 
between the Soviets and the western Allies over access to the city of 
Berlin. As a result, the Soviets denied Berlin all access to the 
western portion of the city that was controlled by the American, 
British, and French forces. Automobile and railroad transportation, as 
well as any water traffic, was prohibited leaving the 2.2 million 
residents of West Berlin helpless.
  In response, the western Allies took flight in an effort to airlift 
food, fuel, raw materials, and other supplies to the hopeful citizens 
of Berlin. These deliveries soon began reaching 500-700 tons a day in 
the summer of 1948, and continued to expand throughout the 322-day 
blockade of Berlin. Persistence paid off as the Soviets lifted the land 
and water blockade on May 12, 1949, ending the dreadful blockade. It is 
not surprising that the airlifts continued even after the blocked ended 
in an effort to build supplies for the needy Berliners.
  The Berlin Airlift Gratitude Foundation and its director, Mr. Heinz-
Gerd Reese, have for the past 50 years preserved the memory and 
achievements of the Allies keeping Berlin free by way of the Berlin 
Airlift. The Berlin Airlift Gratitude Foundation and its members have 
provided the families of the 78 victims of the Berlin Airlift with 
financial assistance since 1959.
  They have provided their full support in all Berlin Airlift reunions 
over the years, not only in Berlin, but all the bases in Germany that 
supported the Berlin Airlift. They have invited the veterans of the 
Berlin Airlift to visit Berlin at their expense to commemorate the 50th 
year of the Berlin Airlift on May 9-13, 1999. The highlight of the 
reunion will come on May 12, 1999, which is the anniversary of the 
official ending of the Berlin Airlift.
  Through their efforts, they have honored those who served and 
hopefully enlightened future generations on how precious freedom is, 
and the sacrifices that must be made to achieve it. The Berlin Airlift 
Reunion to honor the veterans of the Berlin Airlift is also a tribute 
to citizens of Berlin for choosing freedom over communism and working 
under very difficult times and conditions to make the Berlin Airlift 
the great success that it was.

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