A group of World War II veterans traveled to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Their ages range from 96 to 107.
The stories of these trips, arranged by non-profits, some in collaboration with American Airlines, are so heartwarming they bring tears to my eyes.
Many of the heroes arrived in France on Tuesday. They were warmly welcomed by their French hosts. France's first lady was among those to greet them when their plane landed. It is wonderful to see young people participating in recognizing the Americans for their service.
This has to be the longest standing ovation for anyone or anything I have ever witnessed.
— Jack Carr (@JackCarrUSA) June 5, 2024
4000 high school students in Normandy, France standing to honor our World War II veterans.
This area in northern France has not forgotten the events of 80 years ago.
Honored and humbled… pic.twitter.com/RdZqhzpuyH
On Friday, a 102-year-old World War II veteran died while en route to France. Robert Persichitti died in a hospital in Germany.
Persichitti was a Navy veteran who served as radioman aboard the USS Eldorado — an amphibious force command ship — in the Pacific during World War II, according to his biography in the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 2020. He served at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Guam during the war.
Persichitti was among the American troops on Feb. 19, 1945, that witnessed Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, a moment captured by The Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal that would become one of the most iconic images of the war. In 2019, Persichitti returned to Mount Suribachi as part of a veterans program with the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. A Stars and Stripes reporter spoke to Persichitti during that visit.
“I was on the deck” of the Eldorado, Persichitti said, as he looked up toward where the flag had been raised twice that day 74 years earlier. “When I got on the island today, I just broke down.”
Here he is in 2019. He was traveling to commemorate the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Mr. Robert “Bob” Persichitti, United States Navy, Radioman 2nd class. pic.twitter.com/s7IVebGeVI
— Sarah Kirksey (@sarahkirksey_) March 23, 2019
A friend traveling with him from Rochester, New York told a local television station that Persichitti grew ill while aboard a ship in the North Sea. He was airlifted to a hospital and died after he arrived in Germany.
He became a carpentry teacher in the Rochester school system after the war. He regularly visited schools in Pittsford, just outside Rochester, to speak to them about World War II. Students at Calkins Road Middle School celebrated his 102nd birthday with him in April.
His friend Al DeCarlo was his travel companion. Persichitti loved to travel. They were traveling together on this trip.
"The doctor was with him. He was not alone, he was at peace and he was comfortable," DeCarlo said. "She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us."
DeCarlo said Persichitti was an inspiration to him and was thrilled to be with other World War II veterans before his death.
"He was a radio man on a communications ship off the coast of Iwo Jima and Okinawa," DeCarlo said. "He met another radio man, I think he was from the Army, and they were chatting about things from 80 years ago. It was amazing to watch."
RIP, sir. It must be a little dusty in here.
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