Wearing a World War II uniform and carrying mementos from two members of the Greatest Generation, U.S. Rep. Keith Self will parachute into France on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

“I’m just looking forward to enjoying, celebrating and experiencing where they jumped,” said Self, R-McKinney. “Just jumping where they jumped is going to be fabulous.”

Self, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who was an Army Ranger, said he’s one of nine House military veterans who will take part in the volunteer jump. Two other Texas Republicans — U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw, a decorated former Navy Seal from Houston, and Ronny Jackson, a former Navy physician from Amarillo — also plan to jump.

Self made a similar jump in Normandy in 1993, when there were more World War II veterans alive. This week’s celebration may be the last major event involving veterans who participated in the June 6, 1944, landing, one of the most pivotal moments in World War II. Dozens of D-Day participants — ranging in age from 96 to 107, according to news accounts — are expected to attend the commemoration in France. About 100,000 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are alive today.

“It’s important that we recognize that this will probably be the last big celebration with these veterans,” Self said.

The D-Day landings in Normandy were a massive allied operation to liberate France and Western Europe from Germany and the Axis powers. More than 4,400 Allied troops died on D-Day, including 2,500 Americans. The D-Day operation was the largest land, air and sea invasion in military history and considered the turning point in World War II.

As part of this year’s commemoration, a congressional delegation will visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where many of the Americans who died during the assault are buried.

Self said he has a message for any D-Day veterans he encounters: “I’m going to say thank you. I cannot imagine what they went through.”

Self said he’ll make his solo jump over Mont Saint-Michel carrying two medals belonging to Starlin Lee Click, a World War II Army veteran who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service. Self will also carry a portrait of Glenn Hubbard Stevens of Anna. A member of the 507th parachute infantry regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, Stevens died in action on D-Day.

“We all need to honor and remember what happened,” Self said. “It was one of the greatest battles in history.”

Self’s parachute jump is a reenactment, he said. He’ll wear a World War II paratrooper uniform and jump from a C-47 military transport plane. He’s had two practice jumps.

The former Collin County judge was elected to Congress in 2022. He said he hopes the D-Day memorials will help bring Americans together.

“We need to remember our shared history,” he said. “It was truly the Greatest Generation. Every American contributed something.”