Margraten: A special bond for 80 years
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LEWISTOWN -- While the cemetery is over 3,800 miles away, it shares a special relationship with the Lewistown area. The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten is the resting place of three U.S. Army soldiers from Juniata Terrace who gave their lives in World War II.
The cemetery is unique among all European-U.S. Cemeteries of that war. From its beginnings in November, 1944, each soldier buried at Margraten has a local Netherland's citizen sponsor who volunteers to visit these heroes from the past. The sponsors periodically place flowers on the American soldiers' graves, attend cemetery special events such as Memorial Day and they meet with visiting family and friends of the soldiers when those visits occur.
Those from Juniata Terrace who perished were Private Richard Elder sponsored by Hedwig Darley, Private First-Class James Lewis Clark sponsored by Leo Kretzers and Technician 5th Grade Earl Joseph George sponsored by Frans Perey. All three were buried in 1945.
The American Army freed this area of the Netherlands from over four years of Nazi occupation in September, 1944. The Dutch are forever thankful for their freedom and in this small way, they are repaying these fallen Americans for their sacrifice. Most Dutch sponsors are now the children, grandchildren and other family members of the original sponsors. All 8,301 soldiers buried at Margraten have a Dutch sponsor, while there is a long waiting list for Dutch citizens to become a sponsor.
During a 2025 visit to Margraten, my wife, Ruth, and I, a past resident and historian of Juniata Terrace, met with the three current sponsors of these soldiers. Also in attendance were friends Captain Peter Steenmeijer, Royal Netherlands Navy (Retired), and his wife Margot.
To mark the 80th anniversary of these three soldier's burials, a special ceremony was conducted by cemetery officials. The sponsors placed flowers on the graves, along with American and Netherlands flags. Sand from the D-Day invasion beaches of Normandy, France was provided by cemetery officials. The sponsors rubbed this special sand into the names carved into each cross marking the graves. In the sunlight, the sand shines as gold.
To each sponsor, I presented a signed and sealed proclamation from Mayor John Wagner of Juniata Terrace, thanking the sponsors for their continuing dedication for their care of Juniata Terrace's finest. In part, it stated, "The families, the Juniata Terrace Borough Council and Mayor and residents express our sincere gratitude to you, the Sponsor."
This relationship continued during the 100th Anniversary celebration of the building of Juniata Terrace on Aug. 16, 2025. Descendants of the men on the monument and borough officials gathered to pay their respects for those who gave their lives. Continuing the circle of this 80-year special bond, Hedwig Darley of the Netherlands sent an attractive arrangement of flowers to honor these men, and for the commemoration of the 100 years of Juniata Terrace.