Gates Attends Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor Ceremony

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, and Mike Rhodes, acting director, Administration and Management, greet Retired U.S. Army Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, right, prior to the dediction of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor in the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. During the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen earned the nickname the "Candy Bomber" for his habit of dropping candy-laden parachutes from his aircraft to Berlin children. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld greets Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halversen,who flew during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, prior a reception marking the dedication of the Pentagon's newest display corridor - the Humanitarian Relief Corridor. The concept for the corridor was Rumsfeld's idea, and Halversen delivered the keynote address at the dedication ceremony, May 19, 2009. During the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen earned the nickname the "Candy Bomber" for his habit of dropping candy-laden parachutes from his aircraft to Berlin children. In addition to a display of Berlin Airlift artifacts, the corridor documents military participation in other humanitarian relief missions such as the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991, the Yellowstone forest fire in 1988, Hurricane Camille in 1969, and the evacuation of refugees from Saigon in 1975. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, speaks at the dedication ceremony of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor at the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. During the ceremony, Mike Rhodes, acting director, Administration and Management, middle, and Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen unveiled a handkerchief parachute artifact from the Berlin Airlift days that will be displayed in the new corridor. Halvorsen became known as the "Candy Bomber" for dropping candy-laden parachues from his plane to Berlin children during the airlift. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks during a dedication ceremony of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor in the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Mike Rhodes, acting director, Administration and Management, speaks during a dedication ceremony of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor in the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, left, delivers the keynote address at the dedication ceremony of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor in the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. The corridor features a display of the hankerchief parachutes filled with candy that Halvorsen dropped to children during the Berlin Airlift. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halversen delivers the keynote address at the May 19, 2009, dedication of the Pentagon's newest display corridor - The Humanitarian Relief Corridor. Halversen became known to the children of Berlin as the "Candy Bomber," during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift for dropping candy-laden parachutes to them. In addition to a display of Berlin Airlift artifacts, the corridor documents military participation in other humanitarian relief missions such as the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991, the Yellowstone forest fire in 1988, Hurricane Camille in 1969, and the evacuation of refugees from Saigon in 1975. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • Mike Rhodes, left, acting director, Administration and Management, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen unveil a handkerchief parachute artifact that will be displayed in the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor, during a corridor dedication ceremony at the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • U.S. Air Force, Retired Col. Gail Halvorsen stands next to a handkerchief parachute artifact that will be displayed in the new Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor dedicated in the Pentagon, May 19, 2009. Halvorsen dropped candy-laden parachues from his aircraft to Berlin children during the Berlin Airlift, earning the nickname the "Candy Bomber." DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Doretha Herald of the Federal Emergency Management Agency looks at a display following the dedication ceremony of the "Humanitarian Relief Efforts at Home and Abroad" corridor in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2009. DoD photo by John Valceanu
  • Visitors look at displays in the "Humanitarian Relief Efforts at Home and Abroad" corridor after the corridor's dedication ceremony in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2009. DoD photo by John Valceanu
  • Exhibit displays in the "Humanitarian Relief Efforts at Home and Abroad" corridor in the Pentagon, such as this one highlighting the October 2005 Pakistan earthquake, bring to life the efforts of men and women who brought aid and comfort to those in need around the world. Defense Officials dedicated the corridor May 19, 2009. DoD Photo by John Valceanu DoD Photo by John Valceanu
  • A display highlighting the December 2004 Asian Tsunami in the "Humanitarian Relief Efforts at Home and Abroad" corridor in the Pentagon, uses photos and three-dimensional objects to tell the story of what happened during the operation. Defense Officials dedicated the corridor May 19, 2009. DoD Photo by John Valceanu