In the decades since June West Brandt’s older brother lost his life during World War II, his memory has remained alive in her heart. Recently, Brandt, who resides near Houston, was overjoyed to discover that a Dutch couple, Lisa and Guido Meijers, have been actively honoring her brother’s legacy by regularly visiting his grave marker at the Netherlands American Cemetery. It’s wonderful for me to know that someone is there, said the 93-year-old.
The Meijerses are part of a growing initiative aimed at connecting families of U.S. veterans with individual adopters in the Netherlands who take care of and memorize the graves of American soldiers. This initiative, encouraged by Robert Edsel, author of The Monuments Men, has led to the establishment of the Forever Promise Project. This project includes a searchable database that links the graves of approximately 8,300 U.S. service members at the cemetery with their American families.
Edsel emphasized the importance of establishing these connections: I’d like us to find and connect as many American families to their Dutch adopters as is possible. Given that only about 20% to 30% of Dutch adopters are currently in contact with the families of the service members they honor, this initiative aims to bridge that gap.
The Meijerses adopted the marker for Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. William Durham “W.D.” West Jr. years ago and knew little about the young man until they began communicating with Brandt. Through their discussions, they learned of West’s artistic talents and personality, which deepened their feelings towards him. That obviously makes a huge change in how to remember someone, shared Lisa Meijers.
Brandt, reminiscing, mentioned how her brother was a creative soul who enjoyed painting and played the piano by ear. We loved being together, so it was very hard when he left, she recalled, openly sharing the close bond they had.
The presence of the cemetery in Margraten serves as a poignant reminder of World War II and the sacrifices made. Lisa Meijers stated, We just really feel how extremely important it is to remember these things and to honor the sacrifices these people made for us. The Meijerses commemorate West’s memory by visiting his grave about once a month and leaving flowers.
The adoption program has gained considerable traction, with reports of a waiting list for individuals wishing to adopt graves. This act of remembrance is made even more personal, as some families have maintained their care for specific graves since the end of the war, establishing generational bonds that honor the veterans' memories.
With over 300 American families expressing interest in connecting with their grave adopters through the Forever Promise Project, initiative leaders feel a renewed sense of duty to perpetuate these relationships and cultivate a shared understanding of sacrifice across borders.
The Meijerses are part of a growing initiative aimed at connecting families of U.S. veterans with individual adopters in the Netherlands who take care of and memorize the graves of American soldiers. This initiative, encouraged by Robert Edsel, author of The Monuments Men, has led to the establishment of the Forever Promise Project. This project includes a searchable database that links the graves of approximately 8,300 U.S. service members at the cemetery with their American families.
Edsel emphasized the importance of establishing these connections: I’d like us to find and connect as many American families to their Dutch adopters as is possible. Given that only about 20% to 30% of Dutch adopters are currently in contact with the families of the service members they honor, this initiative aims to bridge that gap.
The Meijerses adopted the marker for Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. William Durham “W.D.” West Jr. years ago and knew little about the young man until they began communicating with Brandt. Through their discussions, they learned of West’s artistic talents and personality, which deepened their feelings towards him. That obviously makes a huge change in how to remember someone, shared Lisa Meijers.
Brandt, reminiscing, mentioned how her brother was a creative soul who enjoyed painting and played the piano by ear. We loved being together, so it was very hard when he left, she recalled, openly sharing the close bond they had.
The presence of the cemetery in Margraten serves as a poignant reminder of World War II and the sacrifices made. Lisa Meijers stated, We just really feel how extremely important it is to remember these things and to honor the sacrifices these people made for us. The Meijerses commemorate West’s memory by visiting his grave about once a month and leaving flowers.
The adoption program has gained considerable traction, with reports of a waiting list for individuals wishing to adopt graves. This act of remembrance is made even more personal, as some families have maintained their care for specific graves since the end of the war, establishing generational bonds that honor the veterans' memories.
With over 300 American families expressing interest in connecting with their grave adopters through the Forever Promise Project, initiative leaders feel a renewed sense of duty to perpetuate these relationships and cultivate a shared understanding of sacrifice across borders.
