ARTESIA — Chuck Baldwin’s long and storied journey had a flight path through Artesia.

Baldwin moved to the community with his family as a child, graduating from Artesia High School. While waiting to be called to duty during World War II, he helped run the family’s local clothing and shoe store, and he returned to the store following his military service until its closure in the 1960s.

Baldwin is the uncle of longtime Artesia High School athletic director and head football coach Cooper Henderson, who is proud to see his relative have the opportunity to take part in the 80th anniversary of D-Day ceremonies.

Henderson was also duly impressed to see his 102-year-old uncle climb into the cockpit of his old training aircraft, the AT-6, in Dallas, Texas, in February.

Baldwin told CBS News Texas it was “just like riding a bike.” Baldwin’s trip to France to help mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day is being faciliated by American Airlines, which transported more than 60 World War II veterans ranging in age from 96 to 107 first-class to Paris. NBCDFW reports a group of six Medal of Honor recipients from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam have also been flown to France to help honor the veterans, along with two “Rosie the Riveters” representing the women who kept America’s factories and shipyards running during the war.