Stars that were moving in Formation.

After work I was at my grandmothers house as I always do working in a Local band getting home late… The sky's in Roanoke, Virginia, at night are crystal clear with great view a blanket thick were you could spend hours gazing (No city lights made them stand out).  Off towards the NW over Highway 81 11:00 o-clock high I noticed around 6-8 stars that were moving all in formation very slowly....The lights were no difference in contrast as the stationary stars except these were slowly moving....It was really strange because how could stars cross in formation across the sky?....The stars did not sparkle and never changed relationship to each other...it was something I'll never forget....They were not aircraft for certain...at first my brain couldn't comprehend what was happening...it was because the stationary stars did not move and there were so many of them one had to focus to see the group...The group went from left to right across the sky and slowly faded away! ....I've told my wife years later and family but told no one at that time mainly because I was by myself(No one was up at 3:00 am never not even a neighbor) sighting it was near Mill Mountian people that live there know what I'm saying about that hour.
Witness indicates that date of sighting in 1972 is approximate.  PD