Seven Flathead Valley Community Band members performed at a D-Day ceremony in France, but it wasn’t where they expected to play their instruments.

The local musicians were among 110 American community band members scheduled to play June 6 at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial during the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces invaded northern France, storming the beaches at Normandy in a pivotal battle that led the way for the eventual liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II.

Shortly before leaving for France, however, community band members learned their performance was being replaced by a military band.

Music Celebrations International, the Arizona-based company that had spend more than two years working out the logistics for the community band concert, also found out about the switch at the 11th hour.

“At the last minute the White House and Elysee Palace (the French equivalent of the White House) took over the ceremony,” Music Celebrations Performance Specialist Mara Klein said. “They made a decision to commission the U.S. Army Band of Europe.”

President Barack Obama spoke during the ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial where the community band had been scheduled to perform.

The story, though, has a happy ending for the local musicians.

“Fortunately the little village of St. Laurent-Sur-Mer invited our band to participate in their service on Omaha Beach later in the day,” said tuba player Irv Milheim of Dayton. “We were very, very well-received.”

Klein said Music Celebrations International has numerous contacts overseas and learned that St. Laurent-Sur-Mer was looking for a band to play during its D-Day observance.

“It was a beautiful ceremony and was more special because it was right on the beach,” Klein said. “There was a huge audience.”

The community band was able to play its entire repertoire of songs prepared for the D-Day commemoration.

The Flathead band members included Milheim; Paul Erickson, clarinet; Linda Sole, bass clarinet; Paul Sebesta, French horn; Wendell Tharpe, trombone; Jim Lehner, trombone; and Deanne Lehner, clarinet.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.