Wreaths Across America brings people together, deserves support not derision
In late fall 2018, the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands was informed Wreaths Across America wanted to extend the holiday-season tradition of placing wreaths on the graves of U.S. service members to the World War II Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten.
As the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands at the time, I, along with my team, was thrilled by this opportunity. We accepted the invitation and had a beautiful experience honoring those who had died in the service of our great country.
It is why I feel a personal obligation to respond to reports a group is attacking this tradition in hopes of stopping it from taking place at our national cemeteries around the world.
The American Cemetery at Margraten is a special place where more than 10,000 Americans are remembered and honored. Every single grave in the cemetery has been adopted by a Dutch family. Some graves have been adopted by the same family for going on four generations now. The families visit their adopted graves throughout the year, and on special occasions like Memorial Day, they will present flowers.
A young Dutch man started a program called, “The Faces of Margraten.” It is an effort to get a photo of every American remembered at Margraten. This effort in a few short years has gathered 8000 images. Once every two years these photos are placed on the graves a poignant reminder that every one of the markers represents a real American soldier.
Margraten is a place that brings Americans and our host country citizens together to remember those who sacrificed their lives for America and the liberation of Europe. The adoption program and the Faces of Margraten campaign just strengthen those bonds. Wreaths Across America would do the exact same thing.
The laying of 10,000 wreaths seemed like it would be a monumental task. However, when we arrived on a cold Saturday morning to lay the wreaths, we were once again overwhelmed by the support of our Dutch friends. Hundreds showed up to help distribute the wreaths, and after a short program, the process of laying the wreaths began.
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