Adopt a grave of a deceased soldier? Is that just possible? Where can this be done and how should you arrange it? Are there any conditions attached and why should I do that?
General
The village of Margraten is located in South Limburg. Thousands (8,301 to be precise) of World War II Americans are buried there. The crosses and Stars of David present an impressive image. Hundreds of interested people visit the cemetery every day. The arrangement exudes peace and overview. The names of the missing are written on the walls of the Square of Honor. Some have an asterisk. Their remains were later found.
History
In February 1945, the idea arose to adopt graves of deceased American soldiers. The aim was to support the establishment of the American cemetery. The campaign was a great success. On the first Memorial Day in 1945, all the graves were covered with flowers. A year later all the graves had been adopted. Since 1946, the ,Citizen Committee Margraten, has played an active role in the correspondence between the adopters and the relatives of the fallen soldiers. This often resulted in lifelong valuable friendships. In 2002, Committee’s work was taken over by the Foundation for Adoption of Graves at the American Cemetery in Margraten. The foundation especially wants to continue the work of the ,Citizen Committee Margraten,.
Adopting a grave
If you want to adopt a grave, you can make this known to the Foundation for Adoption of Graves at the American Cemetery in Margraten. You provide your details and your details are then stored at the foundation. You may first be placed in a queue because all graves have already been adopted. You will be notified as soon as a grave becomes available for adoption.
Certificate
Once the adoption is complete, you will receive a personal certificate. This contains the soldier’s name, his rank, registration number and which unit he was in when he was killed. The date of death is stated on the certificate and the state he came from. Furthermore, the place where he is buried in Margraten is described, so that you know where to find the grave. It may be that not all information is known, as this information is not described on the certificate.
Cemetery layout
You enter the cemetery via the Wall of Missing. The names of the missing soldiers are listed here. There is a pond between the two walls. From the Wall of Missing you walk through a chapel to the actual cemetery. The cemetery is divided into 16 sections. These boxes are again divided into rows and then by number. This way you can quickly find ,your, adoption grave.
Adoption conditions
Margraten has the following house rules:
- Visiting the grave; you can determine the frequency yourself
- Laying cut flowers at the grave on special days or occasions (Christmas, Memorial Day)
Are there costs attached?
You pay a one-off five euros (administration) costs for sending the certificate and the administrative processing. You are always allowed to deposit more money.
Why should you adopt a grave?
That is personal for everyone. Perhaps your grandfather or grandmother or parents knew the soldier personally or experienced the war. Most people want to thank the liberators for giving their lives for us. The least that can be done for the surviving relative is to occasionally pay attention to their deceased relative.
After adoption, many adopters look for family in America. The Internet is of course ideal. Try to get in touch with someone from the state where he was born. In general, registries are well kept in America. American veterans sites or contacting the division where he was active can also help in finding contacts. If you come into contact with family of the deceased soldier, you will mainly receive positive responses. It’s still very much alive in America and they will absolutely appreciate what you do. Send photos of the grave to the family and you will hear the history and life story of the person behind the grave.