8Jun09 2:25pm Normandy Time

Note from our director Thom Working:

This has been such an amazing experience. The reception of the French in Normandy has been really exhilarating. Standing ovations and many encore numbers.

It’s hard to describe how warm and open – and thankful even after 65 years – the people of Normandy are towards Americans.

The band has really outdone themselves, playing at a professional level!!! The Legion Color Guard adds a dimension which is so appreciated by both us and the audiences.

We also had the great honor to be a part of raising the flags and laying the wreath at the Normandy American Cemetery yesterday (Sunday) before our concert. The band members also split up into small groups to lay a rose at the base of the cross on each of the Ottawa-Kent county soldiers buried there. A very moving day!

The group has been working very hard with several performances a day for the last two days. Now onto Paris for a of R & R.

-Thom

Holland Legion Band at Normandy American Cemetery where President Obama spoke the day before.

Brief  Itinerary (as of 3/31/09)

June 4 – Departure from Detroit (overnight flight to Paris)
June 5 – Arrival in Paris – travel to Caen in Normandy - visit Caen War Memorial-Museum for Peace.
June 6 – Observe International 65th D-Day Anniversary Ceremonies at Utah Beach; perform in Saint-Lo D-Day Ceremony and evening concert.
June 7 – Concerts at the Normandy American Cemetery (Colleville-sur Mer), Carentan and Arromanches. Sightseeing enroute.
June 8 – Travel to Paris – sightseeing
June 9 – Travel to the Bastogne area with stops at Aisne-Marne Cemetery in Belleau, where Willard G. Leenhouts is buried, and Oise-Aisne Cemetery near Seringes-et-Nesles, where Gilbert D. Karsten is buried (hold brief ceremonies.)
June 10 – Travel to and joint concert in Middelburg, Zeeland Province Capitol, with the Middelburg Muziekkorps.
June 11 – Sightseeing and travel to Wassenaar (outside The Hague) and joint concert with Wassenaar’s Excelsior Grootorkest.
June 12 – Sightseeing – farewell dinner
June 13 – Departure from Amsterdam (flight to Detroit.)

(Performances are in bold .)

June 16 - Homecoming (first regular season) Concert in Kollen Park, Holland, Michigan