Day 2 Part 3: Dutch Adoption Program

Panoramic view of the mall at Netherlands American Cemetery, resting place for 8,301 fallen Americans.

1845 local time

Lille, France

When we think of The Netherlands, as Americans, we think of Holland, Amsterdam, and tulips. While those are three great things about this country I'm going to open your eyes to one more tremendous thing going on here that you might not know about. In fact, I'm sure you do not know about it.

The Netherlands American Cemetery is the final resting place of 8,301 American service members from World War II. A large percentage of them are from Airborne units (82nd and 101st) who were part of nearby Operation Market Garden. On the long stone walls between the visitor center and the burial area are an additional 1,722 names of those missing in action.

Hundreds of graves are decorated similar to this one
thanks to a local adoption program.

The Dutch people became attached to the Americans almost immediately. Instead of liberating the country and moving out quickly, the Americans set up for a longer stay knowing that just over the next ridge line was Germany and the strongly fortified "Siegfried Line" that would be a major struggle to push through. The Dutch were welcoming to their American liberators providing bread, milk, and beef. For a country with little to offer with war time destruction so prevalent, their generous offerings were appreciated by the Americans. Many wrote home about the tremendous outpouring of love from the recently liberated population.

The connection between the Dutch and this cemetery goes back to the days immediately after this liberation. When the Americans entered the region it was assumed that there would be an incredible amount of casualties forthcoming in the push to enter Germany. Land was set aside for the purpose of a temporary cemetery. It later became a permanent. The second in the local area along with Henri-Chapelle. The people of The Netherlands never forgot their liberators.

Today, a local organization has an "adopt a grave" program. All 8,301 graves and 1,722 names on the wall of the missing are "adopted" by local Dutch citizens. They care for the graves as if the person interred there were their own family. Often that responsibility is passed from one generation to the next. There is actually a waiting list to take over for those that can no longer take care of their obligation. This is very apparent at this time of year when there are hundreds of graves with fresh flowers sitting in front of them. This is common back home, but not as frequent here in Europe where connection to the diseased is not as accessible.

Additionally, there is a program to bring a face to each name. A local gentleman has spent his life researching the service members buried at NAC. He has acquired photos of about 5,000 of the 8,301 fallen. Each May, a photo is placed next to the headstone for those that have them available. I'm sure it is a remarkable sight.

Today during my visit I met a wonderful woman named Anne. She asked me to take her photo at her father's grave. She had never met him. Her mother was pregnant with her when he left for war in 1943. This was her first visit and she said she wishes she had not waited so long. There were fresh flowers at his grave, from the local family that has adopted it. It warmed her heart as well as mine to know that since her father was buried here, someone has always been paying attention to this special place. In respect to her, I will not post her photo here because I did not ask if she would be okay with that.

The Dutch people continue to have a special
relationship with the US Military.

Today I also learned a heartwarming story but forgot the name of the airman involved! It's killing me! Anyway, the aviator crash landed a few miles from where the cemetery is located. Turns out it was just inside the German boarder. A Belgian child saw the plane go down and thought nothing of it, as I'm sure this was a fairly common occurrence in those days. Several decades later he became curious about what happened to that plane, and wondered if the pilot was located in one of the nearby cemeteries, and returned with some family members to the area in the distance where he saw the plane go down. He was looking for any information available. Astonishingly what they found was a well cared for grave stone including the name and rank of the pilot.

The woman who owned the land at the time was a German mother of a wermacht (German Army under the Nazi regime) soldier killed on the Eastern front battling the Soviets. His body was never returned. She recovered the body of the American pilot and buried him near the place that the plane went down. She meticulously cared for that grave for decades, as if it was that of her own son.

When this was discovered by the Belgian family, it was reported to the local American officials.The Airman was disinterred and the body moved to the United States. However, the Airman was of Dutch descent and also had a will stipulating that he would be buried with his brothers in arms should he fall in combat. Therefore in 1994, after a lengthy legal battle, the body of the Airman was finally placed it it's eternal grave at Netherlands American Cemetery.

So many stories to be told. Tomorrow I transition to World War I for a couple of days!

A large percentage of the Soldiers interred at NAC are from the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne divisions.