June 27th holds a significant date in history. I was browsing through a reference guide that reminded me that June 27, 1948 started the Berlin Air Lift. The event is considered by some historians as the beginning of the defining moments of the Cold War. In short, the Soviet Union didn’t want to give up control of their part of Germany taken after World War II. The other allies, US, France, and Britain were ready to consolidate the country back into a central government. The break between capitalism and communism began.
Good reference material can be found here.
Ironically, President John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech on June 26, 1963, proclaiming the whole world stood with the Berliners – “Ich bin ein Berliner”. Kennedy continued what President Harry Truman had started in 1948 by continuing to support the Germans toward reunification. Many years passed when President Ronald Reagan stood by the Berlin Wall and told General Secretary Gorbachev to “Tear Down the Wall” on June 12,1987. The Berlin Wall “fell” on Tuesday November 9, 1989. It was a memorable day that symbolized the defeat of communism and the end of the cold war.
So as we gear up for the celebration of our July 4th holiday. Take a moment to remember the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom over the many years to make the impossible possible. After years of oppression, freedom arrived at the doorstep of Berliners.
The independence our forebears gained is still the light in the darkness for freedom and basic human rights. Just as our beginning took many years to achieve and just as the defeat of the Cold War took many years, the challenge goes forward.
May you all have a save and enjoyable July 4th.