VETERANS DAY 2008

Email feedbacks:
Dear Pierce,
Thank you for your kind message. It is indeed an honor to be recognized by Post 100. Give my gratitude and appreciation, not for myself alone, but as a Representative of the thousands of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who made the Airlift a success. The only real heroes of the Airlift were the 31 Americans and the 39 British who gave their lives for a former enemy.
Grateful Gail

Hello Col Gail,
my wife Sylvia & I are proud to have purchased you an Honor Brick. After reading your story on Reinhard website, what you had done for the Berlin children and the people, for the food you flew in was a Blessing for the German people. Gail your Honor Brick represents all Berlin Airlift Veterans, we also have Berlin Brigade Veterans with Honor Bricks that represents all Berlin Veterans, Like John, Gene, Connie, Fred, Denny, Reinhard, & George Stone, who is placed with you at the Irwin County Veterans Memorial site. We all have something in common, that is we all fought for Freedom, & helped and Guarded all the German People of Berlin. I would like to say, that our Friend Reinhard is a Great Person & is a Friend to all American People. Post 100 has been a great help to all of us. Yes & maybe you can visit that Brick some day. Also want to let you know that I am a Farm Boy from South Georgia...
Your Friends
Buddy & Sylvia

Col. Halvorsen,
I would like to extend my congratulations to you on the occasion of your being honored by our Post 100 in Ocilla, Ga. I was similarly honored in 2006. Although I have never been to Ocilla as yet, I hope to get there in the future. I also became a member of post 100.
To me, just having my brick placed in close proximity to the names of Ocilla and Irwin county's true heroes, those who gave their lives for freedoms sake, was a great honor to me. Now you have joined us few Berlin veterans who have been honored and it makes me all the more proud.
I hope that someday I will be able to meet you and shake your hand. Thank you for your devotion, not only to your duty, but to mankind itself.
L. E. "Gene" Keller
Berlin 1962

Dear Gene,
I value your message and likewise honored to be in such company!
Hope we meet some day.
Best regards,
Gail

Dear COL Gail Halvorsen:
Congratulations on joining the many heroes with Honor Bricks at the American Legion Post 100, Ocilla, Georgia. The post's members and officers are indeed honored by your presence, they work tirelessly promoting opportunities to honor men and women who had given much to Berlin's starving population in the after-war period. Your brick within the ocean of others will give impetus to the idea of promoting 'Service to our Country", a slogan which swells our hearts.
Welcome to our group of friends of Berlin, to the memory of your warm-hearted actions during successful 'Operation Vittles' over the city of Berlin so many years ago. We salute you! We are very proud and grateful to find you in our midst. Many of us with bricks had service in Berlin, some during your period, some in later years, others feel a shared burning compassion, all of us are indeed honored by your presence.
Thank you for your service to humanity!
A thankful survivor of that period,
'Denny' Detlev L. Werk, Sr.
26^th INF 'Blue Spader', 1961-63

Colonel Halvorsen,
Please accept my sincere congratulations upon being included in the American Legion Post 100, Ocilla, Georgia, Honor Brick monument.
Your record of service is absolutely outstanding. Amateur historians, such as I, marvel at your accomplishments and at your well earned celebrity. Having seen your image in numerous newsreels and television programs, I've been an admirer of yours for years. Your recognition of the efforts of our mutual friend Reinhard von Bronewski only adds to your accomplishments.
Again, Sir, my sincere congratulations!
Respectfully,
John Parmenter
1^st Battle Group, 28^th Infantry, 1^st Infantry Division, Berlin 1963

Dear Friends,
What a great surprise!! Buddy and your great buddies are something else! Never expected that! Please express to all members of Post 100 my deepest appreciation. What you have done is a real honor because I am only representing the thousands of other Berlin Airlift Veterans that really made it work.
Have to visit that brick some day.
Warm regards to all !
Gail

Hey my Friend, you did it again, the work you did is very nice. Reinhard you are one of the BEST FRIEND that I have. Yes, you did a great job, and I know you put all your heart into this story, also you do the same for all the Berlin Veterans!
You are the Best !
your friends
Buddy & Sylvia.

REINHARD-- you are the Best--yes you are!!!
We at Post 100 continue to be impressed with the hard work and recognition you bestow upon us with your WEBSITE. Even though many of us were not there -- you make us feel so much a part of the times you and our member Buddy Green speak of. Keep up the great work and we applaud and salute you. Thanks for all you do !
Onward and upward,
Bob Anderson, Past Commander

My congratulations go out to Col. Halvorson and our own Alter George on the occasion of having Honor bricks placed at the Ocilla Ga. monument to their fallen heroes. I was similarly honored in 2006 and I an very proud just to have my name in close proximity to those brave souls names. We have a very fine American legion post in Ocilla and I am proud to also be a member. Reinhard, thank you once again for presenting this years ceremony in your wonderful website along with 2006 and 2007. I for one appreciate the tireless work you do on our behalf.
Thank you, and thank you Buddy Green and all the other comrades of mine in our Post 100, American Legion, Ocilla, Ga. !
The old Blue Spader, -Gene Keller-

Last June when I was honored by being allowed to place a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was the greatest Honor ever bestowed upon me. But having my name placed besides Colonel Halverson on an Honor Brick leaves me speachless and for those of you who know me know that is an impossibillity. Having my name placed next to a man who has become a legend and done so much and me so little is like a Fantasy Dream come true. As I have written before I have been many places, done many things and have a room with the walls filled with awards but all of them can not add up to the Tomb Service or the Honor Brick. I want to thank Buddy, his Post, Reinhard and all of you from BUSMVA for the nice things you have said and done for me and Bobby. May you all have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season. Unfortunately this is not he best time of the year for me as through the years many unhappy events have occured during this period and I have lost family and many friends but this has brightened things up a lot. So as Tiny Tim would say: "God Bless you one and all" and I say that with all my heart !
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Alter George, & Bobby

DEAR REINHARD;
YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF HIGHLIGHTING OUR POST, ITS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE BERLINERS, AND YOUR HOBBY OF MEMORIES. MY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I WILL TRY TO GET THIS WEBSITE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE CONTENTS OF THESE THREE YEARS OF "VETERANS DAY HONORS". WE ARE WELL FAVORED TO HAVE MEN LIKE YOU AND YOUR CREW TO DO THESE HONORS FOR US, AND I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE A SOLDIER LIKE MARION "BUDDY" GREEN JR. IN OUR RANKS TO KEEP US CONNECTED TO THE PAST AND HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
SINCERELY,
PIERCE NELSON

Hello, Reinhard.
Thank you so much for your kind words about our small newspaper and the work we do here. Our veterans deserve the honor and recognition we give them through our stories and yes, I guess you could say it is a labor of love. Where would we be without the sacrifices they have made?

Reinhard, I would say to you that your website is truly a labor of love. I have visited it quite often while preparing the "memories" article and have been moved by what I read there, including your remembrances of the Cold War years as well as Buddy Green's and others, like Col. Halvorsen's. I commend you for documenting the history of that era in such a way that the reader can understand what it was like for both the Americans and the Berliners. We are forever connected and your website helps keep that connection strong even today.

I'm thankful that Buddy and Post 100 have brought recognition to Berlin veterans and to you through our local memorial site with the honor bricks placed on the walkway. It is a well-deserved honor and by letting our readers know why these names are there, perhaps the newspaper can help broaden this recognition.

Please keep up the good work you are doing through your website. Berlin veterans like Buddy appreciate it and the opportunity to keep the memories alive. And people like me, not so much younger than yourself, can better understand the significance of that time in the history of our two countries.

Please know that you are always welcome to share our reports. And I also wish for you and your family a wonderful Christmas time.

Sincerely,
Diane Pless

I want to thank you for all the fine work you have done in your part of the world to recognize all the fine military who have served their countries. Thank you as well for your compliments on the stories and pictures we have done here at The Ocilla Star. I have to say, the men of American Legion Post 100 are like family to me. They are a very important part of my everyday life and I truly enjoy when one of these men call up with the news about yet another outstanding thing they have done for our local community. I do not know what we would do without them here and I appreciate you bringing this forth on your website as well. Great site, keep up the good work!
Thank you,
Christy Pruitt
Reporter/photographer/ The Ocilla Star

REINHARD MY DEAR FRIEND,
YOUR ARTICLE WITH ALL THE PHOTOS ON POST 100 WAS GREAT AS THEY SAY IN PARIS, "YOU ARE AN ARTEEST". PLEASE KEEP UP THE MARVELOUS WORK YOU ARE DOING. BOBBY IS HAVING A TERRIBLE PAIN PROBLEM AND I'M JUST FIGHTING IT. WE HOPE YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS FAMILY HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, BLESSED AND MOST JOYOUS XMAS AND NEW YEAR. REINHARD I MEAN WHATEVER I SAY WITH ALL MY HEART, VIEL LIEBE NACH ALLES, MY GERMAN ISN'T TOO GOOD ANYMORE BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
GEORGE & BOBBY.