A World War II Navy veteran who witnessed the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima died while traveling to France to participate in an event commemorating D-Day, a veterans organization said. Robert Persichitti, 102, died Friday, said Richard Steward, president of the Honor Flight Rochester, a veteran’s organization that Mr. Persichitti belonged to. Mr. Persichitti, of Fairport, N.Y., was among the dwindling number of his generation still attending D-Day celebrations. According to WHEC News 10, an NBC affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., Mr. Persichitti flew overseas with a group connected to the National World War II Museum and a companion, whom the organization identified as Al DeCarlo. He was on his way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, known as D-Day, which turned the tide of World War II in Europe.

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Persons: Robert Persichitti, Richard Steward, Persichitti, Al DeCarlo Organizations: Navy, WHEC, NBC Locations: U.S, Iwo Jima, France, Fairport, N.Y, Rochester , N.Y, Normandy, Europe, Germany