American Airlines has announced a special charter flight for 70 World War II veterans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The trip will begin with a send-off parade at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport as dozens of veterans are given the opportunity to fly to France for free.
The veterans will be flown aboard a chartered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and the journey will kick off with a dinner at the airline’s headquarters before departing for Paris on May 31. Upon arrival, the group will spend two days in the French capital before heading to Normandy for a series of events, culminating in a ceremony at the American Cemetery.
This initiative by American Airlines follows a similar announcement by Delta Air Lines, who will also be flying 60 World War II veterans directly to Normandy for the third consecutive year. Among the veterans flying with American Airlines is Frank Perry, a former pilot with Piedmont Airlines and a turret gunner in the Army Air Corps, as well as Felix Maurizio, a US Navy veteran who participated in the D-Day landings.
David Seymour, American’s chief operating officer and an army veteran himself, expressed the airline’s gratitude for the veterans and their sacrifices. He stated that the journey aims to honor these heroes and preserve their legacies for future generations.