Margraten,Netherlands – displays honoring African American soldiers at the American Cemetery Margraten in the Netherlands were quietly removed after being added to the site,sparking concern among local residents who have long adopted and maintained the graves of those buried there.the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) confirmed the removal of one panel featuring Technician Fourth Class George H. Pruitt and a rotation change removing a quote from 1st Lt. Jefferson Wiggins, both Black soldiers.
The cemetery is known for its “adoption program,” where local families care for individual graves. Jettie van den Boorn, 62, whose family adopted the grave of Morris, expressed dismay, stating, “It is indeed as though [the black soldiers] are forgotten, and that’s not good – we are entirely against that.” While acknowledging the land is granted to the US, she affirmed the community’s opposition to the perceived erasure.
The ABMC stated that Pruitt’s panel is “off display, though not out of rotation,” and that Wiggins’ quote was rotated out following an internal review under the previous ABMC secretary in March. The agency maintains that four African American soldiers are featured in 15 rotating servicemen panels, though none were on display during a recent visit by The Guardian.
Local organizations emphasize that all sacrifices are remembered. Frans Roebroeks, secretary of the Foundation for Adopting Graves at the American Cemetery Margraten, said the foundation honors all soldiers “whatever their sex, race or rank.” Rob O’brien, director of the documentary the Adopted, which chronicles the relationships between local adopters and soldiers’ families, described the community’s dedication as “totally impervious to political interpretation,” noting that adopters have honored the graves for 80 years and intend to continue doing so.
Despite the controversy, fresh flowers were placed at Morris’s grave monday morning, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of the local community.
