Nebraska man travels to France for Normandy D-Day ceremony

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – The heroes of World War II were honored on Thursday in ceremonies marking 80 years since D-Day, the start of the allied invasion against Nazi Germany that led to the end of the war in Europe.

The biggest ceremony for D-Day took place in Normandy France, and a Nebraska man was there for it.

Bud Pettigrew is a Nebraska native and the Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission, which houses the cemetery at Normandy.

Forty percent of American soldiers are laid to rest at cemetery’s overseas and Pettigrew said he feels great pride in visiting the site. “They call them one of the greatest generations for a reason. It was one heck of a situation and we owe a lot to them. We call them the greatest generation for a reason obviously. They defeated tyranny. And I’m very honored that I’m going to be there honoring them.”

Pettigrew comes from a military background himself. He is a former Marine and and his grandfather was also on the beaches on D-Day, because of this Pettigrew said the trip is also very personal to him. “I’m really looking forward to this. I want to walk Omaha Beach and I want to look up at those cliffs and see what my grandfather saw and get a better understanding of what he went through. It’s real important for all Americans to think about them.”

President Biden and other world dignitaries were on hand during the ceremony to speak and award the veterans still present today.

Roughly 10,000 US. soldiers are buried at the Normandy cemetery.

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