Vet Center to be Dedicated, Honoring Col. Gail S. Halvorsen

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The Vet Center in Orem will officially be rededicated as the Col. Gail S. Halvorsen 'Candy Bomber' Veterans Center  at 10 a.m. November 21.

Halvorsen, who passed away earlier this year at the age of  101, earned the nickname “Candy Bomber” for dropping candy to the children of Berlin while serving as a U.S. Air Force pilot during the 1948 Berlin Airlift.

The dedication comes as a result of legislation introduced by Sen. Mike Lee and Utah 3rd District Rep. John Curtis to honor Halvorsen’s service. The legislation was signed into law by President Biden on June 7, 2022.

The Halvorsen family, members of the Gail S. Halvorsen Foundation, congressional staff, and other distinguished guests will attend the ceremony at 360 S. State Street., Orem. The public is invited to attend the event.

Vet Centers provide community-based counseling for a wide range of social and psychological services, including confidential readjustment counseling, outreach and referral to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components and their families. Readjustment counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling are offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services at no cost.

For additional information regarding the event, contact: Travis Larsen, Vet Center Director, at 801-377-1117 ext. 3235. For media-related question or queries, please contact Jessica Schiefer, Vet Center Communications Officer at (202) 360-7138 or Jeremy M. Laird,  VA Salt Lake City Public Affairs Officer at (801) 419-5252.   

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Jeremy M. Laird, Public Affairs Officer

jeremy.m.laird@va.gov