LINDSIDE, W.Va. — Junior ROTC students from James Monroe High School in Monroe County returned home Wednesday from a trip to Normandy, France, where they represented West Virginia in the 71st Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion.
The Maverick Battalion, made up of 18 cadets, traveled to France from June 4 through 10, as the only West Virginia group, by invitation only, to participate in the D-Day Memorial Parade.
They were the largest group from the United States at the event and earned the honor of leading the entire parade through the streets of St. Mere Eglise on June 6.
In addition to the parade, the cadets laid wreaths and presented awards to D-Day veterans at the American Cemeteries in St. James and Colleville sur Mer, which overlooked Omaha Beach.
The students were also given the opportunity to converse with modern soldiers from the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, including Brigadier General Brian E. Winski, the Deputy Commanding General for Operations of the 82nd Airborne Division.
While overseas, the cadets got to explore French history and culture, aside from their official duties. They toured sites in connection to Operation Overlord, including Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers scaled a 100 foot cliff to reach Nazi gun positions. They also visited Mont St. Michel, a world heritage site.
After leaving Normandy, the group spent two days sightseeing in Paris. Lt. Col. Scott Womack, the Senior Army Instructor at James Monroe, said students who studied French at James Monroe were able to apply their skills while visiting the country.
Womack earlier told MetroNews they selected the 18 participants out of the 80 cadets they have at James Monroe. Every student had to have excellent class participation, great marching ability, write a research assignment on the D-Day invasion and have a high overall school standing.
According to a news release, Womack said, “For one of the smallest JROTC Battalions from one of the smallest counties in one of the smallest states in the union to have the largest unit marching in Normandy says a lot about Monroe County.”