Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

On Saturday, December 14, the town of Bastogne marked the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge with a solemn commemoration. The event was attended by His Majesty King Philippe and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri and Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bastogne Mayor Benoît Lutgen, and several U.S. veterans.

The FPS Chancellery was also present and offered its expertise to coordinate the commemoration, specifically designing the scenography, supporting the press, drafting texts, and managing public procurement processes. These efforts ensured that the ceremony, paying tribute to the men who altered the course of history, was conducted with the utmost respect and precision.

The Chancellery had the privilege of hearing powerful testimonies from war veterans.

Joseph R. Picard, John D. Foy, Fred J. Nungesser Jr., and George K. Mullins were only teenagers in 1944, yet their memories of those events remain vivid, as if they happened yesterday. Their gripping accounts deserve to be shared with a wider audience beyond the commemoration ceremony. You can watch the video on the Chancellery's LinkedIn account.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the veterans for their invaluable cooperation today and their extraordinary courage at that time. We also wish to thank WMH Project Brussels, FlyAway Visual Facilities, Best Defense Foundation, and Relive History 44-45. Without their dedication, this remarkable historical testament would not have been possible.