Following an eventful D-Day, the celebrations continued on June 7.
To kick off the day, Delta employee Anna Katherine Daley took to the historic streets of Caen to run the Marathon de Liberte 10K, a tribute to the events of D-Day with 30,000 participants and 70 nationalities represented, honoring the legacy of service and global connection that aligns with Delta’s mission to bring people and communities together across the world.
That morning, Papa Jake Larson’s family was in for a special surprise at the home of a French family who had established a friendship with the late Papa Jake during the first Normandy Legacy Flight arrival in 2022 and kept in touch with the Larsons for the last four years. The family’s 15-year-old son, Guia, carries Papa Jake’s legacy forward through his own World War II museum in his family’s garage. In a heartfelt moment, Guia shared a life-sized mannequin of Papa Jake and shared it with the family – a powerful moment.
Meanwhile at Utah Beach, the WWII veterans were warmly welcomed by Mayor of Saint Marie du Mont, underscoring the deep and lasting friendship between France and the United States. Navy veteran Ed Sandy, who served as a gunner aboard a landing craft just off Omaha Beach on D-Day, moved the crowd to tears as he reflected on his wartime experiences and the enduring friendships forged during the war.
The day continued in Sainte-Mère-Église, the first village liberated by American paratroopers, where veterans hosted a private parade through the town. Normans lined the same streets once filled with American troops in 1944, blowing kisses and offering handshakes to the heroes who helped secure their freedom.
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