Flags greet World War II veterans at American Airlines headquarters in Dallas-Fort Worth before heading to France for the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day in Normandy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
DALLAS — With American flags and enthusiastic applause, veterans of World War II were given a rousing sendoff Friday before departing for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
American Airlines is taking 66 veterans and two “Rosie the Riveters” — women who took defense industry jobs to the men could fight — to the ceremonies, which culminate with Thursday’s anniversary of the June 6, 1944 invasion.
Delta Airlines is taking about 50 veterans to Normandy on a separate flight.
The veterans “answered the call to serve the country,” David Seymour, chief operating officer for American Airlines, told an audience of veterans, airline employees and others at its corporate headquarters.
World War II veteran Don Graves smiles as he is cheered on Friday, May 31, 2024, before heading off to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Graves fought as a Marine at Iwo Jima. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
A well-wisher shakes the hand of World War II veteran Bill Kelly Jr. on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Dallas-Fort Worth. ()
“Now we want to take the opportunity to thank them.”
Only an estimated 119,000 of the 16.4 million people who served in the U.S. military during the war are still living, according to the National Museum of World War II in New Orleans.
Actor Gary Sinise, whose foundation helped with preparing the trip, thanked the veterans for their service.
“To all our veterans here today, thank you for saving the world,” Sinise said. “Everyone here is in your debt.”
During the tour, the veterans will also pay homage to American war dead at a U.S. cemetery in the outskirts of Paris, then travel to Normandy and the sites of the U.S. landings at Omaha and Utah beaches and the Army Ranger assault on the 110-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc.
World War II veteran Art Leach, a Navy flyer who served in air combat on the USS Yorktown, arrives for a sendoff ceremony at Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran Max Gurney is cheered on Friday, May 31, 2024, before heading off to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Gurney was a German born veteran who fought in the Army in Italy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)
An estimated 4,414 Allied troops were killed in the June 6, 1944 landings, including 2.501 Americans.
Most of the American dead were killed at Omaha.
The Old Glory Honor Flight, a non-profit group which takes war veterans on tours to Washington, is also supporting the D-Day pilgrimage.
