For the first time, a U.S. passenger airline will fly directly to Normandy with 30 World War II veterans on board. Delta is flying them for the annual commemoration of the 1944 D-Day invasion. Each veteran will be paired with a current Delta employee who also served in the U.S. military.
“This historic flight exemplifies the servant leadership of Delta people and the testament that ‘No One Better Connects the World,’” said Jim Graham, CEO of Endeavor and executive sponsor of Delta’s Veterans Business Resource Group. “The charter forges relationships as Delta veterans escort those who represent the Greatest Generation to the sites of the Normandy landings where they will be welcomed, celebrated and hosted by the people whose families were liberated on June 6, 1944.”
On June 1, this unique charter flight departed from Atlanta to Deauville, France, for a week-long program of events that includes the official D-Day Commemoration on June 6. This is in partnership with the Best Defense Foundation.
“The mission of the Best Defense Foundation is ‘taking care of those who took care of us,’” said Donnie Edwards, founder of Best Defense Foundation. “Through this amazing partnership with Delta Air Lines, we are able to accomplish this mission and provide these heroes with the opportunity to reconnect with their brothers, honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and celebrate the liberation of an ally.”
This unique charter has its roots in the film The Girl Who Wore Freedom, a documentary depicting the annual commemorations in France that was added onboard last year to the Delta Studio.
“Throughout my work on the film, I hoped to have the opportunity to bring more veterans to this historic site, helping them to gain closure and letting them experience the immense gratitude of those who they helped to liberate,” said Christian Taylor, the film’s director. “There is no better tribute to ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom’ than that our film…