Thursday will mark 80 years since D-Day paved the way to victory in Europe during World War II.
Ahead of this week’s ceremonies, dozens re-created the mass parachute drop that cleared the way for the historic landing, including a group that trained in Northeast Florida.
They were dressed in World War II-style uniforms and two of the planes used in the jump actually survived D-Day.
Eighty years ago the Allied paratroopers jumped into darkness and gunfire, and many landed far from their objectives.
Despite that, they secured strategic points and destroyed gun encampments, clearing the way for the history-making invasion.
To recreate that heroic effort, an international team, including many former soldiers, hurled themselves into the now-peaceful skies of Normandy on Sunday.
The jumpers said they could feel the force of history as they stepped out of the plane.
“It really brought it home, the poignancy and the real feeling behind coming across. I know no one is firing at us, they came across at night in 1944. So for us it was an easy jump,” one said.
This aerial tribute took months of planning. Palatka-based group “Round Canopy Parachuting” practiced hitting their marks earlier this year.
Members who made the trip said they didn’t do it for the applause.
“I’ve always wanted to be a paratrooper, especially in honor of the Triple Nickels, which was the first all Black paratrooper unit during World War II, so I wanted to follow the heritage and represent those Black paratroopers who are not here and who did not represent during World War II in Europe,” one said.
More ceremonies are planned later this week with several world leaders expected to attend, including President Joe Biden.
An ever-dwindling number of veterans who are in their late 90s or older will also commemorate the historic moment.