On Saturday, June 8, the Longview High School Choir made a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery, a day after their scheduled performance during a commemoration ceremony was canceled due to an unplanned visit by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Students walked through the rows of marble grave markers and reflected on the lives lost in the Battle of Normandy.

Established at Coleville-sur-Mer on June 8, 1944, it was the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission. It contains the graves of 9,388 of America’s military dead.

Later in the day, the Lobos joined other bands, choirs and orchestras from around the U.S. in performing in the Musical Salute to Liberation in Sainte-Mère-Église, the first town to be liberated by American paratroopers.

The group also participated in the D-Day Memorial Parade through the village.

Their day wrapped up with a drive back to Paris, where they will spend the next two days exploring France’s capital city and performing in a historic church on Monday.

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