Jacksonville, AL – Per the JSU Media Department it’s been 79 years since 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops set foot in the northern part of France to launch a major military operation that changed the direction during World War II. As the world reminisces about D-Day on June 6, the Jacksonville State University’s marching Southerners are preparing to take part in the 80th anniversary celebration in France in 2024.



The world-renowned marching group will be traveling to France in the summer of 2019 to participate in celebrations and ceremonies to commemorate D-Day’s anniversary. D-Day. They will take part in ceremonies held at St. James American Cemetery and Normandy American Cemetery and march in a parade through the first village to be liberated in the war by American forces, Sainte-Mere-Eglise.


span style=”font-family Arial ;”>”This is going to be an unforgettable event for the students of JSU” added the Dr. Ken Bodiford, JSU director of the band. “We feel privileged to to honor the brave soldiers and women who fought to free Western Europe and turn the direction in World War II.”


This isn’t the first time that Southerners have traveled across oceans to take part in a ceremony. They led the parade to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London in 2012, took part in the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 2016, and participated during the World Peace Day Parade at the Vatican in 2019.
Similar to previous trips, students, alumni, and even fans are invited to join in this once in a lifetime journey for Normandy in France and Paris. An itinerary and reservation information is available at www.jsu.edu/france2024.

The band was established in 1956. Marching Southerners band is the most prestigious of JSU providing not only a source of entertainment on game days, but also as the institution’s ambassadors. The band is housed in the Dr. David L. Walters Department of Music, the 500-member group is composed of a wide collection of students from all over the campus. Many of them are pursuing careers as administrators of high schools’ bands. In 2022 the Southerners were given the highest distinction bestowed to marching bands from colleges, and that was the Sudler Trophy from the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. Learn more at www.marchingsoutherners.org.

Major drummer Daniel O’Donnell led the Marching Southerners in front of the USS Missouri in Hawaii in December of 2016 for a show to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor’s attack. Pearl Harbor.