Published Jun 20, 2026, 3:01 AM EDT
Eight women made history with the first all-female Normandy tribute jump, honoring the overlooked women who helped make D-Day possible.
A group of eight brave, bold women took to the sky for a historic parachute jump to mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day in early June. The group included veterans, first responders, law enforcement officials and women working in intelligence, making history as the first all-female unit to leap over Normandy, France. The “chalk” not only commemorated D-Day, one of the most important military operations in American history, but also brought recognition to the role of women in the World War II resistance movement, a vital group that often gets overlooked. The group included Carol Whitmore, the first female commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The event was sponsored by the Fox Force Foundation, a veteran-led nonprofit organization that promotes women’s leadership opportunities and resilience, and VFW. Toni Lavery, founder and executive director of Fox Force, also joined the mission.
Toni Lavery, an Army master sergeant who founded the Fox Force Foundation to help women thrive. (LinkedIn)
“This is recognition for the dozens of women who jumped behind enemy lines to ensure the war effort and D-Day ended and went as well as possible,” Whitmore told Military.com. “Bad ass warriors with little to no recognition!” Lavery, a sergeant major with over 25 years of experience in the military, said D-Day is a time to pause and reflect on the courage, selflessness and sacrifice of the thousands of brave soldiers who died on that fateful day defending the free world. “Even if I wanted to, I could not fathom putting myself in the shoes of these giants upon whose shoulders we walk,” Lavery told Military.com. “The obstacles, near-certain death (and sometimes torture), and sheer hell they faced were unimaginable; standing on such sacred ground where they infilled, fought and bled, helps offer a glimmer of perspective and an immense amount of gratitude.” Due to bad weather, Lavery’s planned jump on June 5 was canceled, but she did jump last year, and the thrill impressed her so much that she couldn’t wait to plan the 2026 jump. “After planning, prepping and training for a year to complete this mission, seeing the women of Fox Force commemorate the Virginia Halls, Violette Szabos, and like-minded women of the past, brought overwhelming pride and joy,” Lavery said. “Watching them cross the drop zone together, helmets tilted, kit bags and reserves over shoulders, smiles and tears on their faces, and even a little cow paddy on some boots, gave me a sense of fulfillment and purpose and the ultimate reverence to the heroes and heroines of our past.”
