Forty-five U.S. veterans -- most now in their late 90s -- traveled to France to mark the 79th anniversary of D-Day on Tuesday (June 6).

Then 21 and serving in the 13th Infantry Regiment, Jake M. Larson was among those who landed on Omaha Beach in the early hours of D-Day. After jumping into the water, he ran to the beach through heavy machine gun fire, making it to the cliffs without being wounded.

"The stars are all these guys that put their life on the line for me to come through. I'm a survivor of D-Day, I'm not the actual hero," the centenarian said.

At the Normandy American Cemetery perched above the sea at Colleville-sur-Mer, dotted with white cross headstones and U.S. flags, 9,386 soldiers are buried.

U.S. officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attended the ceremony there on Tuesday along with the 45 veterans who were helped to travel by the Best Defense Foundation, founded by former American footballer Donnie Edwards.

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied troops set off from the south coast of England to Normandy, beginning the military operation that ultimately led to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

The D-Day beaches, spread over 120 kilometers of the Normandy coastline, attract large numbers of tourists each year.

Bertrand Laho, a Belgian history enthusiast, came for the 79th anniversary and was able to meet some veterans.

"We need to make the most of having them with us to speak to them and learn more, while they are still here," he said while visiting Omaha Beach.

In 2024, the commemorations are expected to attract world leaders to mark the 80th anniversary.

Many veterans hope to make the trip again.

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