House Lawmakers Honor D-Day with Historic Parachute Jump

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, all of whom have served in the military, commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day by jumping out of a World War II-era plane in Normandy, France.

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, all of whom have served in the military, took part in a historic parachute jump out of a World War II-era plane over Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The lawmakers, representing both parties and from various branches of the military, donned period-accurate uniforms and parachuted out of a C-47 Skytrain aircraft, the same type of plane used by Allied forces in the original D-Day invasion.

The jump was organized by Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), a former Green Beret who has made it a priority to honor veterans and commemorate their service. Waltz said the jump was a way to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those who fought on D-Day and to remind Americans of the importance of freedom.

"This is a small way for us to honor the legacy of those who came before us and to remind ourselves of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedom," Waltz said. "We must never forget the bravery and determination of those who fought on D-Day, and we must always be grateful for their service."

The other lawmakers who participated in the jump were Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a former Marine; Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), a former Green Beret; Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), an Army Reserve veteran; Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), a former Navy pilot; Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a former Navy SEAL; Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger; Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), a former Navy helicopter pilot; Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a former Marine; and Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), a former Navy commander.

The lawmakers were joined by a team of experienced skydivers from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's Black Daggers parachute demonstration team. The team provided safety briefings and assisted the lawmakers with their jumps.

The jump was a success, with all of the lawmakers landing safely in Normandy. The lawmakers then visited the beaches where the original D-Day landings took place and met with veterans who participated in the invasion.

The lawmakers' jump was a powerful and moving tribute to the veterans of D-Day. It was a reminder of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedom and the importance of honoring those who have served.