WEBVTT

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- I'm deeply honored to
be here with you today

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to represent the United
States' Air Forces Europe,

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Air Forces Africa,

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and to help commemorate
the 70th anniversary

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of the Berlin Airlift.

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I stand before you today, to
celebrate the accomplishments

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and recognize the sacrifices
of the men and women

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who made the success of this
humanitarian effort possible.

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101 men and women from
Great Britain, Germany,

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and the United States
gave their lives during

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this historic operation.

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We pause on this day to honor
their ultimate sacrifice

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as our nations' mutual bonds of friendship

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and democratic principles
need to be upheld.

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This friendship began in September of 1946

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when U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes

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delivered a historic speech of hope

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in Stuttgart, Germany.

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In that address, he made a
promise to the German people

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that remains unwavering for over 70 years.

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He assured the German people
that the United States was

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committed to a free and democratic Germany

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and that Germany should not become a pawn,

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nor a partner in a
political struggle for power

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between the East and the West.

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It was the Berlin Airlift
that clearly demonstrated

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U.S. and Allied resolve to
uphold Secretary Byrnes'

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promise of democracy,
and provided a beacon

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of hope for the people of Germany.

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The story of Berlin symbolizes perhaps

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the most poignant
example of how the spirit

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of liberty can tear
down the mightiest walls

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of ideological and physical oppression.

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It was this spirit of Allied resolve

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that produced over 278,000 missions

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which delivered 2.3 million tons

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of desperately needed
supplies for the two and 1/2

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million starving citizens in
the besieged city of Berlin.

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In 15 months, over 92 million air miles,

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roughly equivalent of the distance

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between the Earth and the Sun,

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were flown in some of the most challenging

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weather conditions imaginable.

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Every three minutes for 321 days,

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an aircraft approached
or landed in Berlin.

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This interval was maintained
throughout the 170 mile flight,

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not deviating an inch
from prescribed route,

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speed, and altitude.

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On arrival in Berlin, they were
permitted only one approach

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to land, which if missed,
required them to return to base.

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This was and remains a
monumental feat in an era

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where military airlift was in its infancy

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and consisted of aging
C-54 and C-47 aircraft.

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A massive operation, the
Berlin Airlift became the first

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major challenge for the United States'

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newly formed air force,

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and for United States Air Forces Europe.

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It is only fitting that our
service's first major challenge

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was a humanitarian
effort that foreshadowed

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the many humanitarian operations

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that our respective nations
have participated in

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over the past 70 years.

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The Berlin Airlift and the men and women

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that supported it set the
standard for modern humanitarian

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airlift operations.

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World history was changed
by the greatest humanitarian

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aviation event in history,
the Berlin Airlift.

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The city of Berlin and
the Allied airlift of 1948

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to 1949 served as the genesis of NATO

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and became the key cornerstone

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that ultimately contributed to the demise

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of the Soviet Union and the
remarkable reunification

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of Germany.

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The freedom of Berlin was defended

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by the valiant men and
women of this airlift

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and I stand before you today
in a united democratic Germany

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as a result mainly of
their selfless efforts.

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Unfortunately, one of
the heroes and figurehead

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of the Berlin Airlift,
Colonel Gail Halvorsen,

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the Candy Bomber, cannot be with us today.

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At 97 years his health did not permit

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for the trip required across the Atlantic.

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As someone that had the good fortune

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to meet Colonel Halvorsen,
I would ask that you please

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take back to him our best
wishes for all assembled today

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and for the men and women
of the Air Forces Europe

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that we will carry
forward his legacy forever

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and we feel so very
fortunate to have shared

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in his unique and beautiful spirit.

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(applauds)

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Thank you for the
opportunity to celebrate this

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with you today.

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(applauds)