"It will only be future generations who will really be able to estimate the extent of the magnanimity and far sightedness with which the allied powers stood by our city and our country. We shall never forget this." Keeping to the temper of the day, Diepgen quoted a Frenchman, a Briton and an farewell to an old life before beginning a new one" and George Bernard Shaw that the two tragedies in life are one, not to get your heart's desire, and the other, to get it. President John F. Kennedy said two things in connection with the city of Berlin that will never be forgotten, Diepgen said. "In the Bastogne speech, he said that every fortress can be held if it is defended by brave men,'' said Diepgen. "Here in Berlin lie spoke to the cheers of the people, 'Ich bin ein Berliner."'

Allied troops lived by both creeds, the governing mayor explained: they defended the fortress and were Berliners to the core. "Go on being Berliners in your hearts," he said with evident emotion. Parade events featured a 13-gun salute in front of the Victory Column; an inspection of the troops by the governing mayor, the last three Allied commanders and the commander of the German Bundeswehr's element in Berlin; a fly-past by six helicopters, three of which were trailing red, white and blue smoke; a parade in review by the troops, and German mounted Polizei; a display by Allied parachute teams including the U.S. Golden Knights, the British "Tigers" and the French 1 1 th Airborne; and a low-altitude fly-over by a DC- 3 Dakota, a visible reminder of the Airlift that prevented starvation in besieged West Berlin in 1948 - 49.