Frankfurt Peace Road Highlights International Friendship

Frankfurt, Germany – Under cloudy skies, with occasional rays of sunshine peeking through, UPF-Frankfurt held its annual Peace Road event on May 17, 2025. Participants chose one of three routes to the Berlin Airlift Memorial at Frankfurt Airport, dedicated to the Allied air forces that brought aid during the Soviet blockade of Berlin. More than 60 international participants from four continents took part, including 10 children, who had a lot of fun on the way.

The first option was a 22-kilometer bike tour, starting from the Wesel Shipyard on the Main River. Ten hardy cyclists undertook this route, accompanied to the finish by several policemen on motorcycles. The second group consisted of around 25 hikers with children, some on bicycles, who made their way from Gateway Gardens to the Airlift Memorial. The remaining participants chose the shorter route from the Zeppelinheim S-Bahn station.

Everyone was given drinks and pretzels upon arrival at the monument, where two of the famous "raisin bombers" – Allied planes that airlifted supplies to Berlin – still stand. After a break, short speeches were given by Mr. Albert Mobo of UPF-Frankfurt, and participants Mr. Je-Hun Yoo, Mr. Christian Claus, and Dr. Dieter Schmidt. The speakers recalled the importance of the Allied airlift, which supplied the besieged Berlin population with necessary food and other relief supplies from the air during the Soviet blockade in 1948-1949.

The speakers highlighted the importance of building bridges to overcome separation and division. As early as 1981, UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon spoke to scientists about the Peace Highway Project, the vision of an international highway that would connect the world’s continents through a continuous road and rail network, including bridges and tunnels. This was to facilitate free, peaceful trade and travel and to unite the world into a peaceful community.

Mr. Yoo reminded the audience of the difficult situation on the Korean Peninsula which, after more than 70 years of division, is still divided by opposing ideologies and is still waiting for  reunification. Therefore, he said, the Peace Road projects taking place worldwide are perceived as helpful in getting closer to this goal.

After the speeches, group photos were taken in front of one of the "raisin bombers."

By Gudrun Mobo, UPF-Frankfurt May 17, 2025