Today was meant to acknowledge the adopters of Uncle Roy’s grave from WWII, and visit the cemetery. It turned out to be everything we hoped for—and more.
5.26 miles, drizzle and cloudy, 53 degrees, 86% humidity.
Richard’s ReLive video for the day is here: https://www.relive.com/view/vNOPzBAWV2q
We had an agreement to meet Rina and her family at 11 am at the cemetery. No problem—the bus dropped us off at the gate.
Rina, Annie, and Fred were waiting for us. How good to see them again after 15 years!
When Rina and Annie’s mother died in 2012, I was under the impression that her two adopted graves were split between her daughters. Not so! Both Rina and Annie are close to both families so they share adopting responsibilities. We are blessed to have each of them and their families.
Rina had called ahead to let the cemetery know we were coming today, so Anouk met us and gave us some time to see the exhibits in the new visitor center before we had a brief ceremony.
This wall of pictures are but a few of the 8301 graves in the cemetery. Uncle Roy’s picture is on the top row, fourth from the left.
This statue represents every wife, mother, sister, or other family member grieving a soldier lost. In front of her is a reflecting pool. Rina said her mother always thought of the water as the Atlantic Ocean.
These three gentlemen sat behind us in a video showing. They are making a film about Margraten’s African-American US Army soldier gravediggers and hope to show it in a future film festival. They suggested we watch for “Dust to Dust” directed by Morgan Knibbe. http://www.baldrfilm.nl
After I signed the family book in the family reception area and received some literature, we headed out to the graveyard for a short ceremony led by Anouk. First, Annie and Rina had brought flowers. Then Anouk had a Netherlands flag to place and she had a USA flag for me to place as well.
Finally, since the Normandy offensive was so pivotal in ending the war, the cemetery collects some Normandy sand for this ceremony. I was asked to take a small handful of sand to rub into the etched letters on the cross. Anouk said it will glow golden in the sunlight.
How lucky we are to have Rina, Fred, and Annie in our lives. Rina and Annie have been adopters for 34 years. Rina showed us their adoptee’s pictures in her dining room and said she lights a candle every day for them.
There are always maintenance tasks going on at the cemetery: leaves to collect, grass to replant, trees to trim, etc. this is an effort to re-etch the stones as the names and dates erode over time.
Last before heading to the chapel, we accompanied the family to place flowers at the graveyard of their other adoptee, Harold W. Lambrecht, Jr. from Wisconsin.
Rina and Annie hosted us for coffee, tea, sandwiches, and cakes at Rina and Fred’s home. Afterwards, they drove us to Maastricht for a short tour of the town.
Saint Servatius is the patron saint of Maastricht. Unfortunately his church was closed this afternoon, so we instead visited the Basilica of Our Lady.
Over 350 years ago, d’Artagnon was killed in Maastricht during a bloody battle between French and State troops. The fourth musketeer is remembered here.
We made a quick shopping stop and I was introduced to Annie and Rina’s sister-in-law, Saskia. All three of the women married Hodiamont brothers.
Fred explained these plaques installed in the sidewalk. These are reminders of residents who were taken away in WWII. Both of these people died (vermoord) in Auschwitz.
This is the chapel for the “Star of the Sea.” All who come here light a candle, so the church is dark from candle smoke over many years.
The side chapel holds a wooden statue of Mary as “Star of the Sea.” She was made about 1470 and has two capes that she wears: this blue one and a red one. Rina was not sure when or why she wore them, but she said she does not wear any cape during Advent. Students at the University make the capes,
The silver shields on the wall are thanksgivings to God and Mary from believers for prayers answered.
The 12th c. Romanesque church is one of the oldest churches in the Netherlands and is known in part for the painted half-dome and black colonnade.
We headed to a restaurant to celebrate a wonderful day together. Thank you to the Hodiamont families!
Richard and I walked across the river to our hotel, while Rina, Fred, and Annie headed home.
The Hoge Brug is the very new (2025) pedestrian bridge across the Meuse River.
Looking back at the old city from the St. Servatius Bridge.
The St. Servatius Bridge is an arched stone cyclist and pedestrian bridge over the River Meuse. It is named for the first bishop and Patron Saint of Maastricht, and is one of the oldest bridges in the Netherlands, being largely rebuilt after WWII.
Good night, Maastricht, until we visit again.
10 Responses
Rest in peace, Uncle Roy, brother of my Aunt Irene. I am so glad you had this beautiful day honoring your family, Jan. Your evening appears to have ended peacefully.
Thank you for your kind words for my mother and her brother. My grandmother always had Uncle Roy’s picture prominently displayed in her home, so I grew up “knowing” him and his story. How wonderful it is to have these Dutch people who treat us as family because of Uncle Roy. Richard and I were very happy we could visit again in both Nijverdal and Margraten.
It is so great that you have had so many different connections with people you know or have met on this journey. Makes your adventure all the more special. Wow, and all the planning and communications to make sure they all have happened. You get an A+ grade for all your coordinating work ahead of and on this trip. Nice that it’s more than just visiting “places.” Dan and Wendy
We’ve been communicating with folks in the Netherlands all year. They are always helpful and welcoming, so we will always try to come. Ashton-under-Lyme was a new place in Britain, but one which we were very happy to include. I know it’s not the most interesting posts for our friends, but it’s very personal and we want to remember through the blog. Thank you for following us.
Really touched by your visit to Uncle Roy’s grave. Loved seeing the picture of him. He was one handsome guy! Great to meet up with folks who take care of grave! Really liked this part of your trip! Wendy
Thanks, Wendy. This was indeed a highlight for us. It was my third time to go (once as a child) and it is always very different than a US cemetery visit. We were very lucky it was not shut down this year with the government shutdown.
Beautiful ceremony and very moving tribute to your Uncle Roy and all the soldiers who fought for freedom., Jan. Thank you for sharing this experience.
Thanks, Ann. It was a short but well-done ceremony that we’ve never seen before. Perhaps it’s because they’ve staffed to give the families the experience, or maybe Rina got it for us, but we were touched. It’s considered US soil, so in prior years they were included in US shutdowns, but we were lucky.
It was incredible to see how Uncle Roy and his fellow soldiers are still being honored for their sacrifice after all these years. The level of care, respect, and remembrance that continues to surround them says so much about the impact they made. The visitor center looked beautiful, thoughtfully created to preserve their stories and their humanity. I loved the sand and flag ritual. It looked deeply moving and filled with meaning, like a living act of remembrance.
This was a wonderful day both for the remembrance of soldiers but also for spending time with Rina, Annie, and Fred who are family to us now. The Dutch are so grateful for being liberated and want future generations to understand the value of freedom. We must never forget.