Gail Halvorsen, more commonly known as the Berlin Candy Bomber, will receive a Congressional Gold Medal for his service in World War II, along with other members of the Civil Air Patrol.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor that the United States Congress can award to a civilian. Halvorsen, who piloted a C-54, became known as the Candy Bomber during the 1948 Berlin Airlift. Halvorsen would attach candy bars to small parachutes made from handkerchiefs and drop them out of his plane to bring some joy to war-displaced children in Germany.
Halvorsen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has appeared in the recent feature film “Meet the Mormons,” and has five children with his late wife, Alta Jolley. Halvorsen is now married to Lorraine Pace, who has three children.
The Standard Examiner reports that 40 veterans and their families will attend the event along with families of deceased veterans. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Statuary Hall in Washington D.C.
