As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approached, a series of events unfolded across various locations to honor the valor of those who parachuted behind enemy lines on that fateful day in 1944. The commitment to remember and honor these veterans took flight in multiple parachute jumps, drawing in both military personnel and passionate civilians whose lives have been touched by the legacy of World War II.
From Alaska to Normandy, individuals like Command Sgt. Maj. Vern Daley and Nicole Finch donned their parachutes not just for the thrill of the jump, but for something much deeper. Daley, with his grandfather’s WWII-era jump wings attached to his dog tags, leaped into the Alaskan skies while reflecting on the profound impact his grandfather had on his life. “It’s a pretty special deal. It’s very emotional,” Daley said before the jump. And true to the stoic nature of the infantry, he added, “remember, there’s no crying in infantry.”
Daley’s jump was part of the 11th Airborne Division’s anniversary and a week of events that included engaging the local community and demonstrating that the spirit of the “Greatest Generation” lives on in today’s soldiers. “I’ve got some damn good soldiers now,” Daley remarked, bridging the past and present with pride.
Across the Atlantic, in Normandy, thousands, including President Biden, gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata experienced firsthand the gravity of the airborne operation by making a jump from a WWII-era plane using replicated WWII-era equipment, attempting to connect with the experiences of the original paratroopers. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the young people who were actually going into a war zone,” D’Agata reflected.
In a similar vein, Nicole Finch from Spendthrift Farm brought her childhood fascination with WWII to life by joining the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation and ultimately parachuting in Normandy. Finch, inspired by her father and grandfather’s military service, felt a duty to continue sharing the stories of the veterans who had once served: “It’s an honor to be able to continue to share the stories [of these veterans].” During her jump, she carried a photo of Al Mampre, a WWII veteran she met and vowed to honor.
In Mobile, Alabama, Robert Brenizer, a 17-year Army veteran with the 82nd Airborne, made his 65th jump. He carried his grandfather’s Garrison Cap, saying, “He was there. I’m kind of returning it back to where he was.”
While aircraft, weapons, strategy and warfare have all changed since the 1940s, one thing remains the same, Brenzer said.
“It’s a brotherhood. It’s a sense of comradeship…… It’s different from anywhere else,” Brenzer said.
Brenizer was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service. This is the fourth-highest award anyone in the military can receive.
Relevant articles:
– ‘The chance to remember’: Soldier dedicates parachute jump on D-Day to honor his grandfather’s legacy, Stars and Stripes
– D-Day paratroopers honored by thousands, including CBS News’ Charlie D’Agata, reenacting a leap into Normandy, CBS News
– Spendthrift’s Nicole Finch Parachutes in Normandy on D-Day Anniversary to Honor WWII Veterans, Thoroughbred Daily News
– Local grandson of D-Day veteran makes the jump onto Normandy 80 years later, WKRG