The American Cemetery in Margraten put out a call put out a call to local residents to see if they would like to adopt the grave of an American soldier. Harrie's grandmother called and found out that William Herron's grave had not been adopted. She immediately adopted it.
"Often I bring her by car from Beek to Margraten, "Harrie said, "She did this for 42 years."
In 1986, I took it over with love and passion, he said. "I feel it as a duty, a desire to take over what my grandmother started.
The family has adopted the graves of three other American soldiers and have photographs and addresses for Darrell M. Tranbarger and Garland W. Monzingo, but not of Jerome R. Lane or William Herron.
There is a waiting list to adopt a grave, and all 8,301 graves there have been adopted, according to Harrie.
"We must never forget the brave people from another country who died for our freedom." he said.
--GreGen
