The adoption program in Margraten has been in existence for 80 years. All this time, the adopters have been commemorating and honoring “their” soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom in 1944-1945. Our foundation, which manages the adoption program, is apolitical and proud of its adoption community. A community of more than 8,000 people who honor the soldiers buried in Margraten or commemorated on the Walls of the Missing. All soldiers: male or female, black or white, Christian or Jewish, general or ordinary GI, they are all remembered and honored individually and equally. The adopters, often already the fourth generation in the same family, remain faithful to their promise. Our Foundation will continue to manage and promote the adoption program, also in the coming 80 years. We owe that much to the Margraten Boys and Girls!

Meanwhile, we are quietly continuing our work on the Forever Promise Project, a collaboration between our Foundation and the the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. The goal: to bring the American relatives of a soldier buried in Margraten into contact with the adopter. And that has now happened 352 times. Gratitude, disbelief, and joy from the American relatives characterize these contacts. Beyond the issues of the day and with a view to the long term, we continue to work on connecting people across the ocean. So that Americans and our adopters can honor all of “their” soldiers together!