The American War Cemetery and Memorial Netherlands at Margraten (sorry about the ad that runs on this video, just close it when it starts) is one of the 24 overseas American cemeteries maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. There have been 8,301 soldiers buried in the cemetery and the names of 1,722 missing American soldiers have been memorialized on the Walls of the Missing here in Neatherlands. 70 years after the end of war, all of the graves has been adopted by grateful citizens from throughout the Netherlands. The “Adopt a Grave” program began in 1945. This is but one cemetery across Europe. It is located at Maastricht, in the Netherlands, where American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in battles to liberate Holland in the fall/winter of 1944 lie buried.
Every
one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and
British military cemeteries, have been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the
grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a
portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home.
The
American War Cemetery and Memorial Netherlands at Margraten
is one of the 24 overseas American cemeteries maintained by the American Battle
Monuments Commission.
Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial
services are
held for "the men who died to
liberate Holland."
When you have a chance visit these cemeteries in Europe and remember your fathers and grandfathers who fought in WWII and the millions of American's who continue to serve our country with honor, protecting our Freedoms!
If you would like to know about the American Battle Monuments Commission click here to go to the American Battle Monuments Commission web site. Clearly one of the places that represent well spent American tax dollars.
Marc
