Local Headlines
(2007-05-22)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
(Michigan Radio) -
The late President Gerald Ford was commemorated today for his role in evacuating more than 2,000 orphans from South Vietnam to the U.S. Ford authorized "Operation Babylift" in 1975 to rescue orphans and other refugees at the end of the Vietnam War.
His son Steven Ford accepted a memorial award in his father's honor in Grand Rapids.
"There were so many nights our dad talked about the tragedy of Vietnam, but when you look at the good things that come out of it; How he delayed the exit of Vietnam to save 120 refugees, who are now great American citizens, and particular the babylift to get over 2,000 orphans brought here."
The program also remembered the first evacuation flight carrying several hundred Vietnamese refugees and U.S. citizens, which crashed soon after take-off on April 4, 1975.
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