## Delta honors our heroes this Memorial Day: Normandy Legacy Flight, Why We Dream documentary Delta will honor fallen service members with a new documentary and its annual flight returning WWII veterans to Normandy. Staff Writer Fri, 05/22/2026 - 10:30 As millions of travelers take to the skies this Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial start to summer — Delta is making sure the true meaning of the holiday isn’t forgotten. The airline is honoring the enduring legacy of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice through the debut of the documentary, *Why We Dream*, while also making final preparations for its upcoming Normandy Legacy Flight, set to depart for Normandy in early June with 29 WWII veterans on board. ## Preparing for a powerful return This Memorial Day, CNN Films will debut *Why We Dream*, a documentary that chronicles World War II veterans’ journeys back to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024. Directed by Meredith Danluck and produced by Delta’s Window Seat Studios with Vice Media’s Pulse Films, the film premieres Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CNN, with another showing at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. It will also stream on the CNN app. Watch the official trailer [here](https://www.cnn.com/why-we-dream-trailer). On June 2, Delta will carry 29 World War II veterans – three of whom are featured in *Why We Dream* – back to France on the fifth edition of the [Normandy Legacy Flight](https://news.delta.com/delta-best-defense-foundation-return-normandy-fifth-year-america-celebrates-its-250th) in partnership with the Best Defense Foundation and Michelin. Veterans will be accompanied by caregivers – some who are Delta employees and veterans themselves – as well as students and Delta partners for a series of commemorative events and celebrations for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. For some of these veterans, it will be their first time returning since the war. ## A shared commitment to service One veteran, 101-year-old Alan Kinder, hailing from Gainesville, GA, will join the Normandy Legacy Flight for the first time. He landed at Utah Beach in August of 1944, just months after D-Day, to work as an instrument and sound survey technician. This critical role placed him and his team near the front lines using sensitive microphones to detect and locate enemy artillery positions, providing the intelligence needed to increase the accuracy of Allied attacks. He survived some of the most intense moments of the war, including the march to Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge, once almost being killed when a German artillery shell hit a house while he was inside. He was discharged on Dec. 5, 1945. Throughout his journey, Alan will be accompanied by Bryce Ulmer, a Delta TechOps employee and U.S. Air Force veteran. Ulmer enlisted in the Air Force before graduating high school, eventually serving as a crew chief rescue on helicopters in addition to surveillance and cargo aircraft. Later, he joined Delta in 1990 working in various divisions, including TechOps, engineering and pilot ground training before re-enlisting in the Air Force at age 40, serving in both the Air National Guard and Reserves with deployments overseas and ultimately retiring in 2017 after 20 years of service. Alongside his professional career, Ulmer has remained deeply committed to service through active involvement in Delta-led initiatives including Delta’s Honor Guard, Habitat Humanity Builds and serving as a caregiver on the Normandy Legacy Flight. For many participants, the bonds formed during the Normandy Legacy Flight extend far beyond the journey itself, growing into lasting friendships and a shared commitment to honoring the past. Many employees have also developed bonds with veterans through our WWII Veterans Ambassador Program, which pairs employees with past veterans from the Normandy Legacy Flight. Through our partnership with [GrandPad](https://www.grandpad.net/?utm_term=grandpad&utm_campaign=RA+%7C+SN+%7C+Branded&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=3189703085&hsa_cam=15176817987&hsa_grp=128923429109&hsa_ad=559335476080&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-307974307361&hsa_kw=grandpad&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15176817987&gbraid=0AAAAADlciUpm6WmjHCcIVN0GtA9xfQ4XI&gclid=CjwKCAjw2rrQBhBuEiwAarLWHRIcBUwXqwHNuXOlQ7itIYoTdk2QaM-khqEuuQzJPaN0Okez1wUy4RoCXLMQAvD_BwE), WWII veterans are equipped with tablets to connect with employees throughout the year. As these veterans return to the beaches where history was made, their stories are not only remembered but carried forward by a new generation. This Memorial Day, Delta’s efforts serve as a powerful reminder that honoring service is not just about remembrance, but about ensuring these legacies continue to live on. ## Watch and follow along: June 2-10 - Follow along as the journey unfolds: Delta will be sharing photos and updates throughout the program on the [Normandy Legacy Flight page](https://news.delta.com/normandy-legacy-flight-2026) on Delta News Hub. - Follow along on social media at [@lifeatdelta](https://www.instagram.com/lifeatdelta) and [@delta](https://www.instagram.com/delta).