Picayune residents will have the opportunity to watch the local Navy JROTC perform at ArenaBowl XXII, on Sunday in New Orleans, either live or on television.

Picayune’s participation in the event came to be when Picayune School District NJROTC Chief Mark Thorman was asked to purchase tickets for the event. Thorman said he was not interested in purchasing tickets but did ask if the ArenaBowl needed a top ranked color guard for the game.

An e-mail was sent to Thorman asking for a DVD of the color guard’s previous performances. The video was reviewed and late last week Thorman was notified that Picayune’s own NJROTC would be performing at the Sunday, July 27, show.

“Picayune, Mississippi, has been selected to honor our nation,” Thorman said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. How many kids are going to be able to say they did that.”

The NJROTC will arrive the day before to run through their performance and will practice again two hours before show time, Thorman said. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.