The Oakville band hopes to raise $500,000 to fund its trip to perform at the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, in June.

To get to that goal, Kathie Soehngen of the Oakville Band Parents’ Association set up a fundraiser called ‘Take a Vet to D-Day.’

With a $5 donation, a card will be issued where the donor can write a veteran’s name, living or deceased. The cards will then be personally carried by band students as they perform on Omaha Beach and at all memorial events.

To purchase a card, contact Soehngen at kasoehng@sbcglobal.net or 314-894-0981 or mail to 5111 Lampglow Court, St. Louis, Mo., 63129, checks payable to Oakville Band Parents’ Association.

The goal is to have 150 band members carry 50 veterans’ cards each on their trip, Soehngen said.

The Oakville Tiger Band is one of 13 high-school bands in the country and the only high-school band in Missouri that was invited to perform in D-Day ceremonies.

Band members will fundraise for their trip throughout the school year.