'Missing' Veteran Left His Nursing Home To Attend D-Day Ceremony

'Missing' Veteran Ran Away From Nursing Home To Attend D-Day Ceremony

An 89-year-old World War II veteran reported missing Thursday evening actually fled his nursing home in England to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy on Friday.

The Pines care home in Hove, England, where Bernard Jordan has been living with his wife since January, telephoned police Thursday after realizing Jordan hadn't returned from his morning walk, according to local media. Police said the veteran, who was also a former mayor of Hove, left wearing his war medals concealed beneath a gray jacket.

A younger veteran eventually telephoned Jordan's nursing home to report Bernard was safe and they were staying together in a hotel in Ouistreham, Normandy. The two had met on a bus en route to the ceremonies in northern France.

A police spokesman told reporters: "We have spoken to the veteran who called the home today and are satisfied that the pensioner is fine and that his friends are going to ensure he gets back to Hove safely over the next couple of days after the D-Day celebrations finish."

"Once the pensioner is home we will go and have a chat with him to check he is OK," the spokesman said, according to the BBC.

Earlier reports said the veteran was banned from traveling to Normandy to attend the ceremonies, but a representative for the nursing home said that was "definitely not the case," according the Press Association.

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