For the annual commemoration of the 1944 D-Day invasion this June, Delta Air Lines will have the privilege of flying 30 World War II veterans on a charter flight to Normandy, France. The unique charter flight will mark the first time a US passenger airline has flown directly to Normandy.
The Delta charter flight
Operated in partnership with community partner Best Defense Foundation, the charter flight will depart from Atlanta to Deauville on June 1st for a week-long program of events. One such event will be the official D-Day Commemoration on June 6th and memorable dining experiences sponsored by Michelin.
Additionally, Normandy has its roots in the film "The Girl Who Wore Freedom", which was a documentary speaking of the annual D-Day commemorations in France. The film was added onboard last year to the Delta Studio, and having Delta make the trip to Normandy in proving to be an extreme honor, as celebrated by the film's director, Christian Taylor:
“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. There is no better tribute to ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom’ than that our film inspired this return trip in partnership with the Best Defense Foundation, Delta Air Lines, and Michelin, in honor of the 78th anniversary of D-Day."
To make the trip to Normandy all the more meaningful, the principal survivor in the film, Daniele 'Dany' Patrix Boucherie, will also be boarding the charter. She was just five years old when the invasion happened, and she got her nickname by wearing a dress made from the parachutes of the American soldiers who liberated her and her family 78 years ago.
Veterans in Delta
Delta's commitment to supporting veterans and active US military members stems from having the majority of the airline's foundation bolstered by World War II service members and pilots in the early days of its establishment. Today, over 9,000 Delta employees are veterans, with several of them continuing to serve in the Guard or Reserves.
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Moreover, the Atlanta-based carrier has a Veterans Business Resource Group with over 1,400 members. This group provides professional development, networking, and community service opportunities for veterans and military supporters. Thus, the veterans will each be paired with Delta veterans selected from the Group for the charter flight, as highlighted by the Chief Executive Officer and Endeavour and Executive Sponsor of the Group, Jim Graham:
"This historic flight exemplifies the servant leadership of Delta people and the testament that ‘No One Better Connects the World'. 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.”
Among the Delta veterans would be Captain Dan Bauer, who will be honoring his grandfather, who served as a B-24 Pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II, further inspiring Bauer to become an Air Force Pilot. With the opportunity to help out the fellow veteran community on the Delta charter flight, Bauer can bring his family photo full circle in service of others who have served, as he said:
“We are meeting, connecting, and sharing camaraderie with these incredible veterans and making this more than just a journey back to the battlefield. Delta leads by example by putting the people, resources, and most importantly, the soul into making this truly amazing event a reality.”
The honorary line
It is currently unknown what aircraft will be used for the charter flight or if there would be any unique livery further commemorating the event as American Airlines did earlier this month with its contribution to the Honor Flight Network. Nonetheless, the charter flight sounds as exciting as its meaning for the D-Day commemoration. Hopefully, those chosen for it will have the most meaningful time.