The Jacksonville State University marching band is traveling to France to take part in events marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The band, known as the Marching Southerns, along with other ensembles, choirs and JROTC students, will perform at two official ceremonies, today at St. James American Cemetery and tomorrow at Normandy American Cemetery, plus have the opportunity to take part in a parade on Saturday starting in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first village liberated by American troops after the landings.

“This will be a wonderful experience for our students,” said Dr. Ken Bodiford, JSU's band director, “and we are honored to help pay tribute to the brave men and women who fought to liberate Western Europe and turn the tide of World War II.”

Have a great trip, everyone in the South!
Today, Jacksonville State University's world-renowned Marching Southerners are heading to Normandy, France to perform at ceremonies and events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings this week.#KillTheSoutherners #Jackson pic.twitter.com/YkspxyfW2A

— Jacksonville State University (@JSUNews) June 4, 2024

James Spann also posted a video from someone there.

This isn't the 500-member band's first visit to Europe to perform at high-profile events: in 2012, they led the Diamond Jubilee parade in London to mark Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne, and in 2019 they took part in the World Day of Peace parade at the Vatican, where they were blessed by the Pope.

The Marching Southerns have been going strong: In December, they won the prestigious Sadler Trophy, the highest award given to a collegiate marching band and awarded only every two years. JSU is the smallest university to win the trophy since the award began 40 years ago.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on X. @ShipleyAusten