Current:Home > NewsWorld War II veterans take off for France for 80th anniversary of D-Day-InfoLens
World War II veterans take off for France for 80th anniversary of D-Day
View Date:2024-12-23 14:30:18
DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 veterans of World War II took off Friday from Dallas to France, where they will take part in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The group ranges from 96 to 107 years old, according to American Airlines, which is flying them first to Paris. The flight is one of several that are taking veterans to France for the commemoration.
The group will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Suresnes American Cemetery, visit the Eiffel Tower and join in a daily ceremony known as le Ravivage de la Flamme, which honors fallen French service members at the Arc de triomphe.
They then head to the Normandy region for events that include wreath-laying ceremonies on Omaha and Utah Beaches, two of the landing sites for the Allied forces.
Almost 160,000 Allied troops, 73,000 from the United States, landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944, in a massive amphibious operation designed to break through heavily fortified German defenses and begin the liberation of Western Europe.
A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.
The group traveling from Dallas includes six Medal of Honor recipients from wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam who wish to honor the World War II veterans.
There are also two Rosie the Riveters, representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war.
Hundreds of thousands of military women from Allied nations also worked in crucial noncombat roles such as codebreakers, ship plotters, radar operators and cartographers.
There are various ceremonies to commemorate the day in France and to thank veterans, some of whom will make the long trans-Atlantic journey despite advanced age, fatigue and physical difficulties.
“We will never forget. And we have to tell them,” Philippe Étienne, chairman of commemoration organizer Liberation Mission, told The Associated Press.
veryGood! (26)
Related
- Bears fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron amid stretch of 23 drives without a TD
- Shohei Ohtani makes history with MLB's first 50-homer, 50-steal season
- US stops hazardous waste shipments to Michigan from Ohio after court decision
- NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth to sign contract extension with NBC Sports, per report
- MVSU football player killed, driver injured in crash after police chase
- Mexican cartel leader’s son convicted of violent role in drug trafficking plot
- The Fate of Pretty Little Liars Reboot Revealed After 2 Seasons
- Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology
- Tesla issues 6th Cybertruck recall this year, with over 2,400 vehicles affected
- Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's Daughter Daisy Seemingly Makes Singing Debut in Song Wonder
Ranking
- Champions Classic is for elite teams. So why is Michigan State still here? | Opinion
- Gilmore Girls Star Kelly Bishop Shares Touching Memories of On-Screen Husband Ed Herrmann
- 11-year-old charged after police say suspicious device brought on school bus in Maine
- Police saved a baby in New Hampshire from a fentanyl overdose, authorities say
- Up to 20 human skulls found in man's discarded bags, home in New Mexico
- Phillies torch Mets to clinch third straight playoff berth with NL East title in sight
- Mexican cartel leader’s son convicted of violent role in drug trafficking plot
- Meta bans Russian state media networks over 'foreign interference activity'
Recommendation
-
Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
-
Motel 6 sold to Indian hotel operator for $525 million
-
Federal authorities subpoena NYC mayor’s director of asylum seeker operations
-
Brett Favre to appear before US House panel looking at welfare misspending
-
Democrat George Whitesides wins election to US House, beating incumbent Mike Garcia
-
Friends Creators Address Matthew Perry's Absence Ahead of Show's 30th Anniversary
-
Secret Service report details communication failures preceding July assassination attempt on Trump
-
1,000-Lb. Sisters' Tammy Slaton Addresses 500-Pound Weight Loss in Motivational Message