The 2013 Marching Royal Dukes of James Madison University will travel to New York City to perform in the 87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Among those marching with the band are three students from Falls Church.

Alissa Forbes, a freshman majoring in music education, plays in the band’s flute/picc section and graduated from George Mason High School. Jessica Linton, a sophomore majoring in music education, plays in the band’s alto sax section and graduated from Yorktown High School. Rob van Wijngaarden, a junior majoring in computer information systems, plays in the band’s trumpet section and graduated from Falls Church High School.

The band is slated to lead the parade when it kicks off at 9 a.m. The JMU band is one of 11 marching bands performing in the parade, and one of only two college bands – the other is the University of Massachusetts Amherst – that were invited to perform. The Marching Royal Dukes were selected from more than 150 applications sent to Macy’s Parade’s Committee.