American Airlines is flying 70 World War II veterans to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings
JanValls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images
- American Airlines announced a charter flight to France for 70 World War II veterans.
- It will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
- The trip will start with a send-off parade at Dallas-Forth Worth Airport.
Dozens of World War II veterans will enjoy a free flight to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
American Airlines announced Wednesday that it will fly 70 veterans aboard a chartered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. It will start with a dinner at the carrier's headquarters and a send-off parade at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, before the chartered flight to Paris on May 31.
The veterans will spend two days in the French capital before a series of events in Normandy, finishing with a ceremony at the American Cemetery.
Back in February, Delta Air Lines also announced similar plans. It will fly 60 World War II veterans directly to Normandy for the third year in a row.
One of the veterans being flown by AA is Frank Perry — a former pilot with Piedmont Airlines, which later became part of American. He served in the Army Air Corps as a turret gunner.
Felix Maurizio, a US Navy veteran, will also be on the flight. He was on one of the landing craft that transported soldiers, including his brother, to Omaha Beach on D-Day.
"We're honored to play a part in helping this group of heroic veterans return to Normandy," said David Seymour, American's chief operating officer and an army veteran himself.
"This special journey is not only an expression of our gratitude for these heroes and the sacrifices they made for our freedom, but we hope to help shine a light on their extraordinary stories and preserve their legacies for generations to come."