Jasper van Haren
Page 2
A brief history of the American Cemetery and the grave adoption program
in Margarten.
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![[Photo] Jasper van Haren at Fernando B. Rangel's (776) gravesite at Margarten.](images/allies/tjvh_373.jpg) |
![[Photo] The memorial at the American Cemetery in Margarten.](images/allies/torenklein.jpg)
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Originally the American Cemetery was designated to the U.S. Ninth Army.
At first the 611th Graves Registration Company, led by Captain Joseph James Shomon,
planned a location near the city of Sittard. But at the time Sittard was situated at the
front line. When Shomon started his preparations for the cemetery his company was
shot at by American and German units alike. So soon he was forced to look for another
location.
After some cross country reconnaissance their attention was
drawn to a field near the village of Margraten. There Shomon contacted Joseph van Laar,
who later played a very important role in what became known as the local adoption tradition.
After Shomon had uttered his final and convincing statement :
"Listen Joe, the best soil is not good enough for our boys," the decision
making had been concluded and Margraten was definitely designated as the area for
the Ninth Army Military Cemetery.
In November 1944 the actual work in the field started.
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That was the coldest winter in years, comparable to a Siberian
winter, so the circumstances under which the "diggers" (the 3136th Quartermaster
Service Company) had to do their work were the harshest imaginable.
On 10 Nov 1944 the first soldier was buried at Plot A, Row 1, Grave
1 (see location map).
At this time the fallen soldiers were buried in a linen bag accompanied by a brief ceremonial. Soon
19,000 soldiers were laid at rest at the cemetery.
Initially, the headstones were simple wooden crosses with the soldier's
tags attached to it. A year later these crosses bore the soldier's name and service
number.
The next of kin in the U.S. were offered the opportunity to bring
the body of their beloved son, brother, or father back to the States to be buried at home.
Many American families made the heart-rending decision not to bring back their beloved
to the United States. They took into consideration that the beloved's last wish was
to be buried next to his comrades.
More than 11,000 soldiers were brought back to their homeland
and 8,300 stayed at Margraten.
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![[Photo] The American Cemetery in Margarten.](images/allies/tjvh_352.jpg)
View a larger image.
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In the waning days of World War II, a couple of months after the
southern part of the Dutch Province of Limburg had been liberated by American units,
a small Margraten civil committee picked up the idea of adopting graves at the
cemetery. This occurred after Joseph van Laar had been asked by a Captain Lane to
watch out for the grave of Captain Lane's nephew, John Land.
A growing number of American soldiers asked Joseph van Laar
to visit a friend's grave every now and then. The committee soon had set up the complete
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register for the adoption of all the graves at the Ninth Army Military Cemetery.
When the new cemetery marked its first Memorial Day,
Dutch citizens from 60 local villages collected 20 truckloads of flowers so that every
American grave would be decorated on Memorial
Day.
At the end of the 1940s the soldiers were reburied and their
remains were placed in coffins made of steel and bronze.
By 1946 there were thousands of local, and later from all over
the Netherlands, volunteers. In 2003, the task of the committee was handed over to
the Foundation Adoption Graves American Cemetery Margraten. This foundation is
still working on the revision of the adoption register. Now, younger generations are
taking over the honour of taking care of one or more graves.
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![[Photo] The American Cemetery in Margarten.](images/allies/tjvh_346.jpg)
View a larger image.
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On the Walls of the Missing are 1,722 names of soldiers who are MIA
or not identified. In 47 occasions a name is accompanied by a bronze roset, this means
that the soldier has been found or identified.
The last burial, of 2nd Lt. Willis A. Utecht, took place on 19 September 1994.
He was on the wall of the missing, but after the recovery of his remains and positive
identification he could be buried next to his "comrades." He is buried at
N - 23 - 22. His grave is the only one in this row. His name, on the Wall of the Missing,
is now accompanied by a bronze rosette.
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www.fallennotforgotten.nl,
is a special link — because my brother is on it: Go to NEWS, than click on the second
V-MAIL (Memorial Day at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial). Then,
go to the bottom of the web site, you will see my brother's name — Martijn Van Haren.
Martin adopted the graves of Ralph J. Carter and Joseph Fernandez. You will see the
pictures and, please, read the story he left there...it's beautiful.
My brother adopted two graves last year. He found an aunt and a
sister of one of the dead soldiers. Martijn still writes letters and sometimes calls them.
He made me so proud...so I am doing the same now, myself.
I take care of three graves....one in the American War Cemetery in Ardennes,
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![[Photo] Fernando B. Rangel's grave in the American Cemetery in Margarten.](images/allies/jvh_370.jpg)
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Belgium, and another two in the war cemetery here in Holland, Margraten.
I am so proud of the American soldiers, for what they did in
44/45 in Holland...and to be honest we are one of the few countries that still have
great feelings for the Americans....Almost all of the 8,300 graves are adopted!
We have honor for those who died for me and my son's freedom.
Some people think I over-react....but I don't think so. I feel so
good about doing this. Some people save whales, some of them save nature.....and I...I
honor those who died here in 1944/45.
Sincerely,
Jasper van Haren
Netherlands
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![[Graphic] Snapshots from the 464th Bombardment Group.](images/flagd.jpg)