2
3
4
5
6
7 Cosponsors:
8 J. Stuart Adams
9 Jacob L. Anderegg
10 Curtis S. Bramble
11 D. Gregg Buxton
12 Allen M. Christensen
13 Jim Dabakis
14 Gene Davis
15 Margaret Dayton
16 Luz Escamilla
Lincoln Fillmore
Wayne A. Harper
Daniel Hemmert
Lyle W. Hillyard
David P. Hinkins
Don L. Ipson
Jani Iwamoto
Peter C. Knudson
Karen Mayne
Ann Millner
Wayne L. Niederhauser
Ralph Okerlund
Brian E. Shiozawa
Howard A. Stephenson
Jerry W. Stevenson
Daniel W. Thatcher
Kevin T. Van Tassell
Evan J. Vickers
Todd Weiler
17
18 LONG TITLE
19 General Description:
20 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor honors Colonel Gail
21 Seymour Halvorsen for his service to the people of Germany during the Berlin Airlift.
22 Highlighted Provisions:
23 This resolution:
24 ▸ honors Colonel Gail Seymour Halvorsen for his service to the people of Germany
25 during the Berlin Airlift;
26 ▸ recognizes Colonel Halvorsen for the hope and joy he brought to children during the
27 Berlin Airlift; and
28 ▸ recognizes Colonel Halvorsen's unselfish acts that brought honor to himself, his
29 family, the United States Military, the citizens of the state of Utah, and the citizens of the
30 United States.
31 Special Clauses:
32 None
33
34 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
35 WHEREAS, Gail Halvorsen -- also known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings," "The Chocolate
36 Flyer," and the "Candy Bomber" -- was born in Salt Lake City and grew up on small farms in
37 Utah and Idaho;
38 WHEREAS, Halvorsen earned a private pilot license under the Civilian Pilot Training
39 Program in September 1941 and joined the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot;
40 WHEREAS, during the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949, Halvorsen, moved by the
41 gratitude and resilience of the children living in that devastated city, dropped tiny
42 handkerchief-sized parachutes filled with candy from his C-54 for the children of Berlin to
43 chase down and collect -- an act for which he was affectionately nicknamed the "candy
44 bomber," and, though he was nearly court-martialed for doing so, Halvorsen continued to make
45 his candy drops for several months;
46 WHEREAS, in the decades following the airlift, having achieved the rank of Colonel in
47 the United States Air Force, Halvorsen continued his service in the Civilian Air Patrol,
48 returning to Germany as a commander of the Tempelhof Central Airport in Berlin and as the
49 United States Air Force Representative to the city of Berlin; and
50 WHEREAS, almost 70 years later, Halvorsen's service to the children of Berlin stands
51 as one of the foremost examples of kindness and human compassion, bringing relief to a
52 war-torn country and joy to children in need of a little bit of hope, and his continued
53 participation in humanitarian air drops to children in Bosnia, Albania, Micronesia, and
54 elsewhere has served as an inspiring example of dedicated service:
55 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
56 Governor concurring therein, honors Colonel Gail Seymour Halvorsen for his service to the
57 people of Germany during the Berlin Airlift.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor honor Colonel
59 Gail Seymour Halvorsen for the hope and joy he brought to the children of Germany during the
60 Berlin Airlift.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor honor Colonel
62 Gail Seymour Halvorsen for his unselfish acts that have brought honor to himself, his family,
63 the United States Military, the citizens of the state of Utah, and the citizens of the United
64 States.
65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Colonel Gail
66 Seymour Halvorsen.