American Airlines is honoring the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings by chartering a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for 70 World War II veterans. The trip will begin with a send-off parade at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where the veterans will board the chartered plane and head to Paris. Once in France, the veterans will spend two days in Paris before heading to Normandy for a series of events, including a ceremony at the American Cemetery.
Delta Air Lines has also announced similar plans to fly 60 World War II veterans directly to Normandy for the third year in a row. Among the veterans being flown by American Airlines is Frank Perry, a former pilot with Piedmont Airlines and a turret gunner in the Army Air Corps. Another veteran on the flight is Felix Maurizio, a US Navy veteran who was involved in the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach.
David Seymour, American’s chief operating officer and an army veteran himself, expressed his gratitude for this opportunity to honor these heroic veterans and their sacrifices made for freedom. He emphasized that it’s important to shine a light on their extraordinary stories and preserve their legacies for future generations. This special journey is not only a gesture of gratitude but also an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have given so much to our country.