Funeral services for Utah’s Gail S. Halvorsen, the much-saluted “Berlin Candy Bomber,” will be Tuesday morning in Provo.
Halvorsen, a U.S. Air Force cargo pilot, gained fame for dropping treats to children during the Berlin airlift in 1948-49. When the Soviet Union cut off access to West Berlin and stopped supplying food for residents, the United States responded by flying supplies into the city.
More than 23 tons of candy were dropped from U.S. Air Force planes through Halvorsen’s Operation Little Vittles, which made him a hero in Germany, the United States and eventually around the globe. He died Feb. 16 at age 101.
There will be two viewings before the funeral:
• Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Ave., Provo.
• Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Edgemont Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 303 W. 3700 North, Provo.
The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the Edgemont meetinghouse. Halvorsen will be interred at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 S. State St.
According to the Gail S. Halvorsen Foundation, “long before his passing” the colonel asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following organizations:
• Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (www.spiritoffreedom.com).
• Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation(GailSHalvorsenAviationEducationMemorialFund).
• Primary Children’s Hospital (https://intermountainhealthcare.org/primary-childrens/give).
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/1B6eMAX
Post a Comment