Members and supporters of the Herndon High School Band, The Pride of Herndon invite everyone to their “Normandy Kickoff Celebration and Benefit Concert” on May 5 on the Herndon Town Green located at 777 Lynn Street in Historic Downtown Herndon. The HHS Band has been selected to represent the United States at the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France in June 2019. The Band is accepting donations to offset the significant costs associated with the trip.

Significant costs are anticipated for, among other things, band member airfare, lodging, food, and shipping of band instruments and uniforms. Some band members' families do not have the financial means to support their child’s expenses. To ensure all students can participate, the Herndon High School Marching Band is turning to the community and businesses for financial support. Donations are welcome at the concert entrance and herndonband.org.

The concert headliner is the Virginia band, The 5:55 (pronounced the five fifty-five), whose motto for covers is "rockin' up the pop songs and dancin' up the rock songs." Their music covers include Daft Punk, Third Eye Blind, Jackson 5, The Black Eyed Peas, Jimmy Eat World, and many more.

Herndon High School Jazz Band and Saxophone Ensemble will also perform. Mayor Lisa Merkel will deliver opening remarks with guest speakers following. Food and drinks will be available.

While in Normandy, The Pride of Herndon will honor World War II servicemen and women, veterans, active duty military personnel and their families. Each member of the band will carry a photograph of a U.S.S. Herndon crewmember or World War II veteran.

They will pay a special tribute to the men of the U.S.S. Herndon, the destroyer that led the armada of the Allied Forces, which stormed the beaches of Normandy in the assault on German-occupied France, thus opening the door for Allied ships and troops to advance across the continent. The U.S.S. Herndon was named for Commander William Lewis Herndon, after whom the Town of Herndon was named.

The Pride of Herndon will also play at the American Cemeteries in Brittany and at Omaha Beach, as well as in the D-Day Musical Salute to Liberation.

For updates about the events and activities of the Herndon HS Band, visit facebook.com/HerndonBand and Twitter @band_Herndon.