Hastings man, family travel to Normandy for 80th anniversary of D-Day

HASTINGS — A Hastings man and his family are in Normandy, France, today, June 6, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Bud Pettigrew of Hastings is a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The former Marine was appointed to the Commission by President Joe Biden in 2021. Pettigrew is in Normandy with his wife, Angela; his two sons, Arthur and Evan; and younger brother Kevin. ABMC is the guardian of the United States’ overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, which honor the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces. Congress established ABMC in 1923.

Pettigrew said that ABMC is sponsoring the commemorative event June 6 that President Biden will attend.

Pettigrew said that the June 6 ceremony is above Omaha beach in the Normandy American Cemetery.

“I will be in the front row looking at the President and the World War II veterans there,” he said.

After the ceremony, Pettigrew said, “It was fantastic. It was very important to honor the folks living and dead who saved the world by winning at D-Day and World War II.” He said approximately 15,000 people attended the event.

“About 40 percent of people killed in (United States wars) are buried overseas,” Pettigrew said. “The Commission goal is that time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

The Battle of Normandy ultimately led to the liberation of Europe. According to the ABMC website, on the morning of June 6, a fleet of 4,266 transport vessels and 722 warships protected by more than 10,000 airplanes approached the coast of Normandy. The convoy was transporting 130,000 men. The battle ended between Aug. 19 and Aug. 29, 1944.

The D-Day operation was given the code name OVERLOAD. The beaches were given the code names UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD, according to the Eisenhower Library. General Dwight Eisenhower believed that the invasion of France would bring a quick end to World War II. Germany surrendered in World War II on May 8, 1945. Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

According to the publication Marine Times, 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. In the Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed, and 153,000 wounded.

According to the ABMC website, the Normandy American Cemetery, contains the graves of nearly 9,400 people, and nearly 1,600 names on the Walls of the Missing.

ABMC is responsible for establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since 1917. Pettigrew and his family have been in France the last week touring sites including those associated with D-Day.

Pettigrew said the ABMC was the “brain child” of General John Pershing , the commander of the American military during World War I.
Pettigrew taught history in various Nebraska public schools from 1989 to 2009, then was project manager at the Minnechaduza Foundation in Valentine from 2010 to 2020. He is a Hastings College graduate.

President Joe Biden speaks at an event June 6 commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, (Bud Pettigrew, Courtesy)

This statue at Normandy depicts a scene from D-Day on June 6, 1944. (Bud Pettigrew, Courtesy)