Thank You Letter from the Candy Bomber

Col. Gail Halvorsen, known as the "Candy Bomber" of the Berlin Airlift, was our guest speaker for Veterans Day in November 2019. Col. Halvorson recently send the following thank you letter to the school and we wanted to share it with all of you:

Dear Jeb, teachers, administrators and students of Payson High School,

Last November I was invited to speak at your school for your Veteran's Day assembly. At that time you gave me a beautiful "Payson High" blanket, sweatshirt and socks. The warm blanket is now on my bed! Soon after, in the mail I received a large packet of letters from many of you! Thank you, each person, for your letters and the messages in those letters. I treasure these gifts. 

At the Veteran's Day assembly in November, we heard your choirs sing and I had the opportunity to meet many of you. It was a real highlight to be with you--to share my story of the Berlin Airlift and how I got started as the Berlin Candy Bomber. It was because of young people your age and younger, that relationships between warring nations changed, and former enemies became friends. The children I met in Berlin in 1948 did not ask for any goods  for themselves--they only asked that we keep flying in food to Berlin so their families and fellow West Berliners could stay free. 

At the assembly, I mentioned the importance of attitude, gratitude and service before self--and that it is the little things that make a difference. You have your lives before you and many choices to make. Perhaps the principles we discussed will help you make some of your future decisions. You young people are the hope of the future. We have a lot of faith in you and the good you will bring to the world. One person really can make a difference through small and simple actions. 

May God bless you in all you do, and may he also bless your teachers and administrators. 

With gratitude,

Gail S. Halvorsen, Berlin Candy Bomber/Uncle Wigglywings