News Release: East Berlin Community Singers to Perform at the Opening Ceremony for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy France

East Berlin, Pennsylvania sent this bulletin at 05/09/2024

For Immediate Release May 9, 2024

Media Contact:

Dot Gray, Public Relations

dotplanner@yahoo.com 301-524-1260

Pennsylvania Singers Invited to Perform in Normandy France at the

Opening Ceremonies of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day 1944

The East Berlin Community Singers under the direction of Jane Johnston have been invited to Normandy France by Earl T Hurrey, MGySgt USMC (ret.), Vice President of Military and Veterans Affairs Selection Chair, to perform during the Liberation Memorial Ceremony at the Brittany American Cemetery on June 6, 2024. The singers will perform the opening choral music for the ceremony. This 80th anniversary remembrance will be heralded across France with events at all five landing areas for the Allied troops in 1944—Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach.

The organization has been preparing for their trip to Europe after accepting the invitation in May of 2022. Jane Johnston is a renowned artistic director who taught music at Bermudian Springs High School for 34 years. The community singers have been performing in the region for 10 years and are recognized for their quality repertoire and varied genres of choral music.

Gettysburg, near East Berlin, is recognized in France as the sister city for Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Jane says, “it is an overwhelming honor to represent Pennsylvania and the United States during this momentous occasion”. She has four uncles who served in the European Theater and that connects her to this world-changing event honoring the fallen soldiers of WWII. Many of the singers in the group have also shared their individual experiences with stories of those who served our county. “I am honored and excited to be part of this liberation memorial ceremony”, says Mrs. Johnston.

The official state commemoration takes place on 6 June 2024 at Omaha Beach, in the town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer where 2500 American soldiers died. It will be attended by President Emmanuel Macron.

The East Berlin Community Singers will spend four days in Normandy where they will perform a concert in Sainte-Mere-Eglise. They will be touring Omaha Beach, Mont Saint-Michel, surrounding areas of St. Mere-Eglise and will sing Hymn to The Fallen by John Williams in a mass musical production with a full orchestra. The group will proceed to Paris to perform at the La Madeleine Church in Paris and tour the many sites in the beautiful City of Paris.

Here at home you are invited to attend a concert with the East Berlin Community Singers on Friday May 17th at 7:30 at St Mark Lutheran Church in Hanover or Sunday May 19th 3PM at Paradise Lutheran Church, Thomasville, PA