WASHINGTON – A contingent of US lawmakers from the House of Representatives are preparing for a celebratory parachute jump into Normandy, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the historic attack which launched the end of World War II.
Organized by Representative Mike Waltz, Republican of Florida, and Representative Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, the bipartisan group is expected to include 10 congressmen, all veterans, making the journey to France to honor and pay tribute Friday to U.S. and Allied troops at a defining moment moment at home and abroad.
Waltz said that in this era of political acrimony and infighting he believes it is important for Americans to see their representatives in Congress “coming together” to honor veterans.
“I think actually doing something that’s notable and that, you know, maybe young people will pay attention and say, Wow, that’s exciting and cool — to pass on your legacy — is worth it,” said the congressman, former Army officer and Green Beret.
Crow, who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment, and Waltz made a similar leap for the 75th anniversary. But more colleagues wanted to join in this year, eager to mark the milestone in what may be the last opportunity to honor elderly veterans who actually served in World War II. The jump is scheduled for Friday.
“Taking the same leap these units took 80 years ago is an important way to honor these veterans and remember that America is at its best when we set aside self-interest,” Crow said, “and do great things for the betterment of our country”. , just like the Greatest Generation did decades ago.”
The group of lawmakers is meeting at a time when Congress has struggled to keep up the foundations of governmentfractured by internal political divisions and the ongoing debate over the U.S. role in the world amid Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War.
Those taking the leap include a new generation of military veterans in Congress from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with those who have been out of service for years. They do not always agree politically, especially on US support for Ukraine, as Republicans close with Donald Trumpthe party’s presumptive presidential candidate, voted primarily against a recent help package. Democratic President Joe Biden used your own D-Day address draw parallels with the fight for democracy in the Second World War and call for solidarity with Ukraine.
Before the jump, many of the lawmakers attended an April drill in Florida to recertify the launch.
“We’re ready to go: feet and knees together, out in the breeze,” said Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., former Army combat veteran.
“You know, the reason for doing this is, as always, to honor one of the greatest generations that ever lived,” he said.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by lawmakers that their group, while technically bipartisan, is primarily made up of Republicans who hold one of the narrower majorities in the House in modern times.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, former Navy rear admiral and White House physician, said the advice from GOP leadership was simple: Be careful.
Lawmakers will don period parachutist uniforms and fly in a vintage aircraft before jumping to the beaches below in the historical reenactment – albeit on a much smaller scale.
Eighty years ago, thousands of US and Allied paratroopers landed around Normandy Beach at the head of the largest armada of thousands of ships ever assembled, transporting huge numbers of Allied troops across the English Channel to combat Nazi control. It would be the largest air, land and sea attack in history, the beginning of the end of Hitler’s takeover of Europe. Thousands of American and Allied soldiers died on D-Day and in the fighting that followed.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., an Army veteran, said that while the U.S. faces challenges today in supporting Ukraine against Russia — he voted for the aid package — he hopes the message people take away from the events birthday is “do not delay in repelling tyranny.”
Waltz said he spoke with House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier in the week and assured the Republican leader that the group would be safe.
“He just looked at me and I said, Mr. President, I promise you, the planes are old, the uniforms are old, the site is historic, but the parachutes are new,” Waltz said. “Then don’t worry… we’ll be fine.”
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this story.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
