NASA chief to travel to Luxembourg for Battle of the Bulge commemoration

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Luxembourg will host a series of commemorative events from 12 to 14 December, with a number of distinguished guests attending the solemn observance.

The Battle of the Bulge, a pivotal moment in World War II, is remembered for the heavy sacrifices endured by both soldiers and civilians. During the last major offensive by Nazi forces, approximately 82,000 Allied soldiers and 100,000 German soldiers lost their lives, along with hundreds of civilians caught in the crossfire.

The central event of the commemorations will take place on Saturday, 13 December, at the US military cemetery in Hamm, where about 5,000 soldiers are buried.

Among the honoured guests will be the Belgian royal family, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and delegations from the US House of Representatives and Senate. NASA Chief Bill Nelson will represent US President Joe Biden to pay tribute to the victims of the Battle of the Bulge.

In addition to international and national dignitaries, representatives from victims' organisations will attend the ceremony, with members of the public also invited to join the commemoration in Hamm.

Those wishing to attend the official ceremony in Hamm on Saturday morning, beginning at 10am, must register in advance. Registration will open on Wednesday morning at 9am on the government's website, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to road closures around the cemetery, all attendees will be required to use shuttle buses.

The commemoration will continue on Saturday afternoon in Bastogne, where a visit to the Espace23 Museum will be held. Bastogne, a key communication hub during the battle, was surrounded by the Wehrmacht and later liberated by General Patton's forces.