As part of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, 48 U.S. World War II veterans landed at Deauville-Normandie Airport this week. The former soldiers, many of them in their late 90s and some over 100 years old, arrived from Atlanta on a special Delta Air Lines charter flight.
The First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, received the veterans together with Patricia Miralles, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Remembrance. The veterans' arrival was met with enthusiastic cheers from hundreds of Normandy residents, U.S. and French military forces, and school children. For some of the veterans, this was their first visit to France since the Normandy landings.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, emphasized the airline's pride in bringing the veterans to France for this special week of remembrance. Together with Brigitte Macron and representatives of the Best Defense Foundation, he presented Madame Macron with a replica model of a Delta 767 aircraft as a thank you for the airport's support in the return of veterans.
The event also included an official ceremony where WWII veteran Neil McCallum, who had previously requested a meeting with the First Lady, was personally greeted by Brigitte Macron. The veterans will visit a school in Bayeux during their stay to share their stories with students and pass on the legacy of their generation.
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