David Yoho, 96, who served aboard an oil tanker in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific in World War II, smiles at well-wishers as he and other veterans arrive in Paris to attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
PARIS - After a roaring sendoff from enthusiastic well-wishers, World War II veterans flew Saturday to Paris to pay homage to the thousands of fellow Americans who perished in the fight to liberate Europe from Nazism.
“By serving your country you have liberated ours,” France’s former ambassador to the U.S., Philippe Etienne, told the nearly 70 “Greatest Generation” veterans in a small but enthusiastic reception at Charles de Gaulle airport. “The flame of remembrance must never be extinguished.”
Cadets from the U.S. service academies as well as American Airlines employees and Americans living in the Paris area cheered and waved small American and French flags as the veterans, most in wheelchairs, appeared in the arrival hall.
Veteran Seymour Lipper, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the artillery, greets well-wishers as he arrives in Paris for D-Day commemorations. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
The veterans, whose ages average slightly over 100, smiled and waved in return despite coming off a nine-hour flight from Dallas-Fort Worth airport. For the flight, the cabin of the American Airlines Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” was festooned with small American flags and red, white and blue decorations. Soon into the flight, a member of the support team advised the veterans’ escorts to have their prescription medicines close at hand and to make sure their veterans shift their weight to avoid clots which can threaten such elderly passengers.
The U.S. ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, greeted them with “welcome back.” French-born Florent Groberg, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan in 2012, delivered remarks in French and English thanking the veterans.
A choir from Marymount International School in a Paris suburb sang national anthems of France and the United States.
Veteran Julian Hilts is greeted by well wishers in Paris. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
On Sunday the group paid homage to American war dead during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris where 1,583 Americans are buried. Most of those buried there died in World War I.
An honor guard from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, fired a 21-gun salute.
The pilgrimage was organized by American Airlines and volunteer groups that support veterans.
Delta Airlines is also sponsoring another group of veterans attending the D-Day commemoration.
Veterans awaiting welcoming ceremony at Charles de Gaulle airport . (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
Despite enthusiasm at Charles de Gaulle, the welcoming ceremony was smaller than the large crowd at Dallas-Fort Worth which saw them off.
Hundreds of travelers at the crowded airport cheered as volunteers wheeled the veterans down Departure Hall D just before they boarded the flight.
Travelers crowded around the 66 elderly men and two women, representing “Rosie the Riveters” who took defense industry jobs so men could go fight.
The crowd cheered, took Smartphone photos and approached the veterans to thank them for their service and sacrifice.
