Jefferson Caffery was very busy in the early months of 1948 as the United States ambassador to France. An interim aid program was underway to provide war-torn France with desperately-needed food and supplies. This was critical to stabilize the situation in France and other countries before the great European reconstruction program, known as the Marshall Plan, could begin.
One day the ambassador received an interesting letter from a resident of France. It was from Anne-Marie Pocreau, an 8-year old girl from Vannes writing what she thought of the interim aid initiative. Anne-Marie told the ambassador of the thrill of eating "some good bread" for "the first time in a long time." She writes "Papa says it is bread made with flour from America. As Mama often tells us we must always say thank you."
This history serves as a reminder that American foreign policy is at its best when children's health is a top priority. Today, across the globe children are not getting the help they need. The U.S. has to lead the international community in addressing this escalating crisis.
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