A few weekends ago, my family received a special treat. We got to meet the Berlin Candy Bomber. Apparently he and his squadron trained in our area. His real name is Gail Halvorsen and he’s the guy who started it all. All what, you may ask? The bombing of starving children in Berlin–with candy.
He’d been assigned to fly into Berlin with staple foods for the starving people post-WWII. While his plane was unloaded, he noticed children crowding the airport fence. He talked with them and shared the only sweets he had at the time, a couple pieces of gum. He was worried because there were so many hungry children and he had so little to offer.
But the children split the gum up. Those who didn’t get any sniffed the wrappers as if they were in heaven. He promised to drop candy the next time he could. He’d wiggle his wings so they’d know it was him. Back on base, he recruited friends to donate candy and handkerchiefs. The candy bombing began.
Soon the efforts were supported by the military under the name “Operation Little Vittles.”
Halvorsen pioneered an effort that inspired hope in a broken nation and compassion in nations around the world. What struck me most when I heard him speak was his enthusiasm for helping the kids and the way they clung to the hope he inspired.
Hope is a powerful thing. When winter came and the children knew there might be times that weather would prevent “Uncle Wiggly Wings” from coming, they told him not to chance it. They told him that it didn’t matter how hungry they were. They would someday be free like him and freedom was worth it.
We watched his movie and listened to his speech while everyone in the audience munched on candy in the warmth of a theatre.
Sometimes we take freedom for granted. Sometimes we take food and warmth and safety for granted. Sometimes we even take hope for granted.
But hope and the desire for freedom thrives in the hearts of people around this world, now even as it did then.
Spread a little by sharing the inspiring story of the Berlin Candy Bomber. His story is available in book and movie form.
We have a photo bomber in this pic!
When is a time someone brought hope into your life? How did they do it?
