The 80th anniversary of D-Day took place June 6 with 65 U.S. WWII Veterans taking a special flight to visit landmark sites in Normandy, France. One TriWest employee joined their extraordinary journey.
On the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, world leaders, military officials, celebrities and large crowds gathered in Normandy, France, for the milestone commemoration of the historic World War II event that began the end of German Nazi rule in Europe.
Despite its success, D-Day remains one of the most daring and costly events of WWII. More than 4,000 Allied troops were lost with 2,501 U.S. losses alone on the “Omaha” and “Utah” beach assaults on D-Day, according to History.com.
Each year the anniversary of D-Day remains an important and historic event. However, those who served in WWII – or the D-Day invasion – are fewer with each passing day. This year, the 80th anniversary of D-Day carried added significance as likely the last milestone commemoration WWII Veterans would experience in their lifetimes.
A Special Flight to France for 65 Surviving U.S. World War II Veterans
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, American Airlines arranged a special “Return to Normandy” flight that flew a group of 65 U.S. WWII Veterans to France for the milestone event.
The remarkable group of WWII Veterans ranged in age from 96 to 107, with an average age of just over 100. Their special flight featured a nearly week-long journey to landmark D-Day sites and participation in historic 80th anniversary events.
In honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) was extremely proud to be among the sponsors of the Veterans’ “Return to Normandy” flight and their special journey.
Just weeks before departure, Glenn Gray, TriWest vice president of Military and Veteran Engagement and one of TriWest’s original employees, was astonished when he and his wife were presented with an incredible invite from President and CEO Dave McIntyre to join the special flight and historic Normandy tour.
“The Veterans 80th anniversary of D-Day journey was simply an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Glenn said. “I knew it would be a rare and awesome experience.”
Embarking on a Once-in-Lifetime Normandy Journey
Nearly a week before the 80th D-Day anniversary, the tour group met May 31st at the American Airlines headquarters in Dallas before their long overnight flight to Paris. The next day, the “Return to Normandy” flight arrived in France carrying the group of Veterans who had served in one of the world’s costliest wars.
“There was a total of 65 WWII Veterans on the journey from both the European and Pacific Theaters,” Glenn shared. “Remarkably, about a dozen of the Veterans had participated in landings or flown over Omaha and Utah Beach on D-Day, or the days to follow. Some of these remarkable Veterans had parachuted in behind German lines or drove landing craft on to the beaches,” he added.
Once arrived in Paris, it didn’t take long for the Veterans to embark on the variety of unique tour activities they would experience on their week-long visit to Normandy.
“On Sunday we visited the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris, which is the burial site for about 1,500 World War I troops and about two dozen WWII soldiers,” Glenn noted. “The following day we traveled about four hours northwest to the Normandy region and Houlgate, a small town near the English Channel that enthusiastically welcomed us and was our first exposure to the sincere appreciation of the French public.”
“During our stop, I visited with a 61-year-old French gentleman dressed in a historically accurate American G.I. uniform who said that he had been participating in WWII reenactments since he was 11, as had others in his family dating back to 70-plus years ago,” Glenn added.
Glenn learned that the man drove 80 miles to attend the historic D-Day anniversary and noted that WWII ‘reenactors’ travel from across Europe each year to remember and celebrate D-Day.
Beach Touring and 80th D-Day Anniversary Activities
On June 4, two days before the 80th D-Day anniversary, the group began their tours of revered WWII battle sites within the historic Normandy region.
The Veterans first visited Omaha Beach, the landmark D-Day site where the largest number of U.S. troops were lost attempting to secure the invasion site and move inland to attack German forces.
Later, they visited Pointe du Hoc, a formidable beach barrier where Army Rangers and small bands of other U.S. troops crossed the beach to scale cliffs between Utah and Omaha beaches. Of the 250 Rangers who made the climb to reach devastating German artillery bunkers and start the attack on German forces, only about 90 survived the two-day battle to hold the area.
On Omaha Beach, Glenn learned the D-Day experiences of a couple of the Veterans who had participated that day.
“It was an amazing moment on the beach when I spoke with a Veteran who had flown over Omaha Beach on D-Day as a paratrooper,” Glenn said. “He was on the beach telling his story of flying low over it in the foggy early morning hours, flying in darkness, waiting for his designated drop site and then start fighting the battle.”
Another Veteran shared his Omaha Beach experience of driving a ‘Higgins boat,’ the main landing craft that carried Allied troops to the beach. His brother was onboard and then disembarked and deployed to the beach. Several months later the Veteran learned his brother had indeed survived the D-Day invasion and was safely on his return home.
“This Veteran was supposed to visit Omaha Beach with his brother 20 years ago, but a few months prior his brother passed due to illness. This was his first time back to that beach in 80 years,” Glenn shared.
Others took private moments to remember D-Day and reflect on their war experiences.
“I’ll always recall one gentleman standing at attention on Omaha Beach and knowing he was probably having a vision of what he saw 80 years ago,” said Glenn. “Those of us who were fortunate to be on the beach with the Veterans understood that the D-Day memories of those who had actually been there, or of others who later viewed news reels during their overseas service, were not the peaceful scene we were witnessing that day.”
Visiting “Utah Beach” and Recognizing Those Who Delivered Support
The next day, June 5, the Veterans visited the historic “Utah Beach” landing site, touring the setting and attending a special D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration.
“They spent their visit on the beach and attended the unveiling of a new WWII Merchant Marine memorial for its role in the D-Day invasion.
The oldest Veteran in the group at 107 was a Merchant Marine (Reynolds ‘Rey’ Tomter, pictured right with Glenn) who helped ensure that supplies, ammunition, and food were delivered in the days following D-Day to keep troops supported,” Glenn noted.
At both D-Day landing sites, Glenn was in awe of how young the Veterans were when they joined the military and how determined they had been to serve in the war.
“Visiting with the Veterans on the beaches as they recalled their war experiences, it was remarkable how many had been 16 and 17-year-old kids and lied about their age to support the war,” Glenn shared. “They were just kids then, but they wanted to be in the effort to fight, to bring munitions and supplies, and do any job to help their country.”
An Outpouring of Public Appreciation Unlike Any Other
The last stop that day was the small village of St. Mere Eglise, known as the first French town liberated by Allied forces on D-Day. Each year the town commemorates the event with a popular 10-day celebration featuring parades, concerts and other activities.
St. Mere Eglise typically swells from its population of around 3,000 citizens, but according to Glenn, the group was stunned when they arrived to find an estimated 40,000 people along a one-mile stretch from the town hall to the city square.
“There were people 20-feet deep who just came out to see the Veterans, thank them for their service and hopefully get close enough to shake their hands or get a picture. They were hanging off light poles and sitting on rooftops,” Glenn shared. “For them, it was likely the last opportunity to see these Veterans alive and back in France. There were people in tears with such deep appreciation even 80 years later.”
“It was unlike any parade or Veteran event I’ve attended before,” Glenn said. “The generations following those who experienced the actual German occupation understood and appreciate that their lives would not be the same if not for the bravery and sacrifice of our nation’s greatest generation.”
Surviving WWII Veterans Participate in 80th Anniversary of D-Day Ceremony
On June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Veterans arrived at the Normandy American Cemetery on their final day in Normandy. At the revered cemetery, they were received as honored guests for the historic occasion’s major commemoration ceremony. The commemoration site, located in Colleville sur Mer on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, was originally established to be a temporary cemetery only two days after the D-Day invasion.
After the Veterans arrival and visit of the landmark site, it soon became the focus of world attention. The U.S. WWII Veterans joined other Veterans, dignitaries, citizens and world leaders to pay distinguished honor to those who fought and sacrificed on D-Day.
“Our group of WWII Veterans were on stage with another 50 to 60 or so Veterans, where they were later joined by President [Joe] Biden and French President [Emmanuel] Macron,” Glenn recalled. “There were over 6,000-7,000 in the ceremony audience, including celebrities like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and approximately 20 U.S. Congressional representatives.”
With the ceremony’s conclusion, the Veterans completed their Normandy mission and visits to historic D-Day sites. It was time to return to Paris for their special flight home and the close of their memorable journey.
“The final day, the WWII Veterans returned to Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in Paris to say farewell to new friends made on the trip,” Glenn said. “It was bittersweet, knowing that it may be some Veterans’ last trip to Normandy. But it was a terrific experience for all of them, and to be a part of their very special 80th D-Day anniversary journey.”