National correspondent Dan Grossman is with us now.
Dan, you caught up with some of the vets.
I mean, what,
You know, what an honor to do this report,
first of all, and, and that they're,
you know, setting out on this journey incredible as well
going back to France.
Yeah, chance. They're amazing people that we got to speak
to.
The average age of these folks going over there,
more than 100, the eldest
107 years old. We spoke to him off camera and
he said that he's still is woken up at night
by what transpired more than 80 years ago.
For others, it's going to be a mix of emotions,
some going there for the first time.
They will experience honor, grief and also a sense of
group mentality among their peers and comrades.
Our lives are made-up of milestones,
chapters really,
and at the ripe age of 99.
Oh, it's been wonderful.
I really enjoyed it myself.
Third Class Petty Officer Clarence Holland is about to start
a new one that in many ways will be a
postscript to one that was already written 80 years ago.
I'm looking forward to going home
and being with all these other
World War Two men. There is the beaches of Normandy,
France, where Holland and more than sixty other World War
2 veterans will visit the historic site by way of
a group gathered by American Airlines and others to honor
our nation's heroes. Sometimes words can't describe the feeling that
I have about what we're doing here.
This
is the send off from Dallas Fort Worth
as these veterans will be accompanied by
230 cadets, medics and relatives on the 80th anniversary of
a battle that cost
2500 American lives but turned the tide against the Nazis
in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in
the history of war.
The invasion of Normandy was
like a red letter in my life.
At 96 seaman first classed,
Willie Clemens will be the youngest to embark on this
new chapter.
He served in Japan, but as with so many here,
feels a tie to this historic place.
The one of the handicaps that I have
because I get emotional.
Like Clemens, this trip will be the first time many
of these men and women will see it.
The sands that hosted one of the bloodiest battles of
the war.
For others, it will not.
The expectation brings with it an emotion we've all felt,
but not with the depth reserved for those who have
served.
I got back home
without getting a scratch.
A lot of people didn't see the family more.
We owe them this honor
to reserve the members of them
so that we don't get caught in something like this
in the end.
Until that moment comes, short term farewells will be exchanged.
Off we go in the wild.
Louie Yonder, knowing when they return,
many of our nation's heroes will be forever changed.
Having closed this chapter for good.
The good Lord has just been good to me.
You know what? And
this country has been good to me and you've been
good to it in return,
Sir.
The Glory Honor Fight posted some pictures to Facebook that
showed these veterans on the beaches of Normandy today.
You could see a wide range of emotions chances.
They really took in some for the first time.
What happened there?
My gosh, you, you hear that term swelling with pride.
And I just even watching that,
Dan, you just feel bigger and and and prouder watching
these men and women go back.
Dan Grossman, thank you so much.
And yes, to everyone who served,
thank you so much.