PSU All-Sports Museum Director travels to Normandy for D-Day anniversary

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — The 80th anniversary of D-Day was earlier this month, and one area resident traveled to help honor and remember the fallen. 

Lewis Lazarow is the Director of the Penn State All-Sports Museum located inside Beaver Stadium. Last year he signed up to perform music in the commemoration ceremonies. Using his music and marching band background he was among the 160 plus to be selected. Lazarow spent three days in Washington D.C. and a week in Paris.  

“It’s an unparalleled experience, I think to be there and stand on Omaha Beach,” Lazarow said. 

1200 student-athletes served in World War II, 27 of them never returned home. During Lazarow’s trip, he stopped at many graves and shared his experience on social media so no Penn Stater is forgotten. 

“For their families and for them really to know that they haven’t been forgotten, that their service has been appreciated and their sacrifice has been noted even 80 years later,” Lazarow said.

 Lazarow said that the overall experience is one he’ll never forget. 

“It was it was intensely meaningful to be there to see where they were 80 years ago. And then to be a part of those ceremonies to honor them. It was yeah, it was very emotional, was very significant,” Lazarow said. 

His travels also provide a new opportunity for new and first-hand perspectives to visitors of the museum 

“I think it adds an additional dimension to our exhibit to be able to say that, oh yeah, it’s not just that it’s an ocean away. It’s, you know, it’s somewhere that I can offer people a personal perspective,” Lazarow said. 

The Penn State All-Sports Museum does have an exhibit for World War II veterans and it’ll be open until June 1, 2025.