The Soft Power of Historical Connections, by Julie Moyes
As PD officers we often don’t realize when we arrive at a new posting that we are deeply connected with the people of that country because of our shared history.
This quickly hit home when I came to The Hague and immediately started receiving invitations soliciting Embassy representation at World War II commemorations: for example, the anniversary of the victory of allied troops when they captured the bridge at Nijmegen; or on a more modest scale, a dedication of a statue in a church yard honoring three American flyers who parachuted into the area when they bailed out of their fighter. American families were present, along with a remarkable woman who aided and sheltered the men until the Dutch underground moved them.
I’m sure that many of our PDCA members have their own stories about events from the past that continue to be marked every year in celebration of these bonds. For me, the most poignant and touching experience was my contact with the people of the Netherlands who gathered with us every year at the U.S. military cemetery at Margraten near Maastricht on Memorial Day weekend. (At left in the photo, Netherlands Charge Ned Nolan greets a Dutch family who brought flowers to that cemetery. I'm there in the white hat; Nolan's wife is at right.)The Southern part of the Netherlands was liberated by the U.S. Army in September 1944. The Dutch residents of the area billeted the soldiers in their homes until they moved on to Germany in late 1944 to fight in the Battle of the Bulge.
Many of the soldiers did not survive those last days of the war, but the Dutch wanted to do something to honor their friends and together formed a plan to have a Dutch family adopt every single one of the graves. They got in touch directly with the American families and often placed flowers on the graves.
When I first visited the cemetery in 2002 there were still some American veterans and original Dutch adopters who attended the annual ceremony. To meet them and hear their stories was indescribably touching. They are no longer with us, but their adoption plan survives today with the duties being passed on generation to generation in Dutch families.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that year after year the Dutch crowd the cemetery on Memorial Day weekend and cover every grave with flowers and messages to honor the sacrifice of those young soldiers. And every year we are reminded of this joyous, painful and profoundly lovely connection between our two countries. At least once a year the story lives on.
This year, journalist and author Jonathan Darman wrote on November 11 in the New York Times about Margraten and the 14 permanent overseas military cemeteries set aside for America’s World War II dead, remarking, “These beautiful, haunting places were dedicated by still-grieving Americans in the years that followed the war, remembering its awful costs and praying for a lasting peace.”
And on Nov. 11 a Dutch publication reminded us of the dedication of the Dutch to make sure that every American buried at Margraten has a right to have their story told.
Julie Moyes is a member of the editorial team at the Public Diplomacy Council of America, and served 32 years in the Foreign Service. She did two tours in the PD section in the Netherlands and was honored to attend the observance at Margraten five times, which she termed a highlight of her career.