ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The 2008 Joint Service Open House marked the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift with approximately 250,000 visitors over three days.
Both the Secretary of the Air Force and the German ambassador spoke at the opening ceremony Saturday.
"The Berlin Airlift displayed a U.S. dedication to a stable and prosperous rule of law and international system," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne. "It demonstrated truly the ingenuity of America's military to create sovereign options ... in response to a changing national security environment."
"Today, Berlin is again the capital of the united Germany. But 60 years ago, freedom and the democratic future of Germany were at stake when the Soviets blockaded the city," said German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth.
The United States and her Allies saved more than two million men, women and children in West Berlin he said.
"I stand in awe before what these Americans did for my country: for 322 days, in more than 270,000 flights, the U.S. Air Force, working with the Army and the Navy, brought more than 1.7 million tons of supplies into the city - everything from potatoes to an entire power plant," he added.
Potatoes and power plants were not the only items airlifted into Berlin. Candy was dropped from C-54's for the children. The man who started the practice was also at the show. Gail "The Candy Bomber" Halvorsen, now 87, was on hand for interviews, remarks at the opening ceremony and dropping candy out the window of a parked C-54 airplane.
Friday was open to Department of Defense ID cardholders and their families, school groups, the press. Overall the weather was kind to Andrews. With some rain on Friday and Sunday, Saturday was the busiest day. The parking lots at FedEx Field and the Branch Avenue Metro Station were both filled to capacity by noon.