- Normandy to Paris by Pedal: Honoring VE Day with a Flag of Friendship
- Endeavour Victory Ride: US-French Alliance Celebrated on Two Wheels
- Bicycles and Brotherhood: A Veteran’s Journey from D-Day Beaches to Le Bourget
Le Bouget, Paris. 16 June 2025. Amid the roar of jet engines and the fanfare of aerospace innovation at the Paris Air Show 2025, one group arrived not by air but by sheer human endurance. The Endeavour Victory Ride, modeled on the U.S. Air Force’s Memorial to Memorial ride, covered 240 miles over four days, beginning at the American Cemetery in Normandy and culminating at Le Bourget for the Paris Air Show.
Carried by 14 riders from the U.S. Air Force, French Air Force, and the Endeavour Scholarship Program, the American and French flags symbolized the bond forged through war and honored in peace. The ride, supported by Kallman Worldwide, was a celebration of the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end, a nod to the 350+ American companies exhibiting in the USA Partnership Pavilion, and a show of solidarity with future aerospace leaders.
The Endeavour Victory Ride, a bicycle journey from Normandy to Paris, was led by Brigadier General Robert “Surf” Beletic (Retd), USAF, Director of the Memorial to Memorial (M2M) ride. In an exclusive interview with Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU), Surf shared the inspiration, symbolism, and deep camaraderie behind this transatlantic tribute ride.
ADU. Please introduce yourself and tell us how this inspiring ride.
Surf Beletic. My name is Brigadier General Robert “Surf” Beletic, USAF (Retired), and I’m the Director of the M2M — the Memorial to Memorial Air Force Heritage bicycle ride. For this ride, we started in Normandy where we held a ceremony, picked up both the American and French flags, mounted them on our bicycles, and rode for four days to Paris for the opening ceremony of the USA Partnership Pavilion at the Paris Air Show.
ADU. And this was specially done to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day?
Surf Beletic. Yes, absolutely. This ride was deeply meaningful as it commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day. It was our way to honor the sacrifices and celebrate the enduring alliance between the United States and France.
ADU. How many riders were part of your team?
Surf Beletic. We had a team of 14 riders. Most of us flew in from the United States with our bicycles. We gathered in Normandy, and that’s where the journey began.
ADU. Who sponsored this incredible endeavor?
Surf Beletic. The ride was sponsored by Tom Kallman and Kallman Worldwide. Tom learned about the M2M — which normally takes place in the U.S. each September from the Wright Brothers Memorial in North Carolina to the USAF Memorial in Washington, D.C. — and suggested we do a special edition in France, riding from Normandy to the Paris Air Show. That’s how this international version came to life.
ADU. What are the goals of the original M2M ride in the U.S.?
Surf Beletic. The M2M ride has three main purposes: To celebrate U.S. Air Force heritage, to promote fitness and recruiting, and to support our wounded service members.
ADU. Will you be taking the flags back to the U.S.?
Surf Beletic. That’s a good question. Tom Kallman has something special planned for the flags. I don’t know what exactly, but I trust it will be meaningful.
ADU. Is this kind of ride something you plan to repeat at future Paris Air Shows?
Surf Beletic. We hope so! This was the first time we’ve done this particular route — Normandy to Paris — and it was a great success. We’re definitely considering making it a tradition, perhaps for every Paris Air Show in the future. It’s a powerful symbol of partnership and remembrance.
ADU. Can you elaborate on the deep purpose of this ride?
Surf Beletic. The ride had a powerful purpose. We rode for heritage, to honor the legacy of the U.S. Air Force and those who served before us. We rode for unity, carrying both the American and French flags to symbolize the enduring alliance between our two nations. And most importantly, we rode for the wounded — to show solidarity with the brave men and women who’ve borne the cost of service. From the D-Day beaches of Normandy to the tarmac at Le Bourget, this was more than a ride — it was a tribute to our shared history, a celebration of partnership, and a promise to never forget.
ADU. Anything you’d like to add?
Surf Beletic. Yes — I want to thank the French people. Everyone we met during the ride was warm, welcoming, and supportive. I also want to thank Kallman Worldwide, everyone who serves in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, and especially our wounded warriors — we ride for them.
As the Endeavour Victory Ride reached its powerful conclusion at the Paris Air Show 2025, Brig. Gen. Surf Beletic and his team reminded the aerospace world that innovation must walk hand in hand with honor, history, and humanity. Their four-day, 240-mile journey from the hallowed grounds of Colleville-sur-Mer to Le Bourget was more than a feat of endurance — it was a tribute to shared sacrifices, enduring alliances, and a future grounded in remembrance and respect.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
