Robert Edsel, author of the bestseller ‘The Monuments Men’, is publishing a book about the unique adoption programme at the American Cemetery in Margraten. This book ‘Remember Us’ will be published on 29 April 2025 in English and Dutch. It is a story about freedom and the price paid for it, and about humanity without borders. His book ‘The Monuments Men’ was filmed in 2014 with world-renowned actors like George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray and others. It deals with a group of art experts and specialists who tracked down and secured art treasures looted by the Nazis. This group also worked to protect cultural heritage.

One of the Monuments Men, Walter J. Huchthausen, fell on 2 April 1945 in Aachen and was buried in Margraten. When Robert Edsel visited his grave in 2016 and heard about the adoption programme, he became so fascinated that he decided to write a book about it. Why do people in the Netherlands commemorate American soldiers even 80 years after the war? After years of research, interviews and archive research with his team, his book is finally ready.

Edsel passionately brings to life an unknown story against the backdrop of World War II. He uncovers the roots not only of a friendship between countries but of an ongoing commitment of adopters. The book follows 12 people; a mother trapped in a dangerous city, a teenage girl sacrificing for her family during the German occupation and ten US soldiers (airmen, infantrymen, paratroopers, tank crews, chaplains and African-American soldiers). With his book, Robert Edsel wants to make the adoption programme in Margraten known to the general public in America.

He urges relatives to check whether any relatives are buried in Margraten or listed on the Walls of the Missing and, if so, to contact the adopter. This then goes through the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. The adoption foundation in Margraten will reach out to the adopting family. Once again, it promises to be a bestseller and who knows, maybe a film adaptation will follow. Subscriptions can already be made for the English version of the book. The QR code in the image below can be used to place a pre-order. Or use this link to Amazon.

The Dutch version will go on pre-sale in December and will be printed by publisher Het Spectrum. From May 2025, the books will also be available for sale through our foundation.