Links
A list of useful links to informative sites for more information on World War II subject matters.
A list of useful links to informative sites for more information on World War II subject matters.
Maastricht, The Netherlands, 24th December 1944, Christmas Eve.
The initiative to the Mass was an idea of the Brothers of the Immaculate Conception, who, by then, were the owners of the cave. They are better known in Maastricht as `The Brothers of the Beyart’. The Mass was celebrated in a cave, called The Schark Cave, in the neighborhood of St. Pieter’s Mountain in Maastricht. Between 250 and 280, mostly very young American soldiers, who stayed in Maastricht and its surroundings, attended this Christmas Celebration Mass in the small cave in the neighborhood of St. Pieter’s Mountain. After the Mass these young soldiers signed with charcoal their signature on the marl wall.
This Federal public body was created in 1923 by the American Congress. The ABMC is -amongst other things- responsible for commemorating the effort and sacrifices of the American troops as of April 6th, 1917 and for developing, building, managing and maintaining the 24 permanent American cemeteries outside the USA, including Margraten.
Founded in 1991 with the objective of creating a platform for sons and daughters (and other next of kin) of Americans killed in action during World War 2. Our Adoption Foundation has close ties to the AWON-Organization.
Main objective of this website is to pay homage to the many young American soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom and to assure that their stories are not forgotten. The website contains life stories of fallen Americans who are buried in Margraten.
Here you can find eyewitness stories and information about the construction of the American Cemetery in Margraten as of November 1944. The site has been specifically developed for educational purposes.
The Fields of Honor database (formerly the Adoption-graves database) is a project of Foundation United Caretakers American War Graves and contains information about soldiers who lie buried or are commemorated at the American Cemeteries at the Ardennes, at Henri-Chapelle and at Margraten. The Fields of Honor database is a project that was started several years ago and will take several more years to be completed. So far the database already contains information about several thousands of soldiers.
For the sake of completeness: this foundation is not connected with our own foundation that has the exclusive rights to allot graves or names on The Walls of the Missing for adoption (e-mail: info@adoptiegraven-margraten.nl)
In and around Margraten the memory of the sacrifice and endeavor of the soldiers buried there is very much kept alive. Among other things by organizing a top-level open-air concert on the American Cemetery. A classical concert that suits the unique location and is a worthy tribute to the servicemen whose last resting-place this is.