Margraten, Netherlands — A recent decision to remove two displays honoring Black U.S. soldiers from a military cemetery has sparked strong reactions from visitors. The American Cemetery in Margraten, where around 8,300 American soldiers are buried, has seen an outpouring of objections in its guestbook.
This change came from the American Battle Monuments Commission, which manages U.S. memorial sites internationally. The displays were taken down in the spring, following directives from the Trump administration that aimed to end diversity and inclusion programs. “Our country will be woke no longer,” stated Trump during a Congressional address in March.
Many Dutch officials, along with families and locals who care for the cemetery, have expressed understandable anger over the removal. Joe Popolo, the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, suggested that these displays were not meant to critique America, though he declined further comment on the matter.
One display shared the story of George H. Pruitt, a Black soldier who died in 1945 while trying to save a comrade. Another highlighted the racial segregation policies that were in effect during the war. About 1 million Black soldiers served in the military at that time, often placed in separate units and relegated to non-combat roles, though some did participate in key missions.
Cor Linssen, whose father was a Black American soldier, supports the return of the displays. He has personal ties to this history, recalling that he felt different growing up, being the only child of color in his school. “It’s an important part of history,” he emphasized, calling for the panels to be reinstated.
Emails retrieved through a Freedom of Information Act request indicated that the removal was linked to the administration’s policies. While the American Battle Monuments Commission claimed that the panels did not align with their commemorative mission, the rationale has raised eyebrows among community members and historians alike.
The local community takes pride in caring for the graves, often passing down the responsibility through generations. A recent television program even recreated the removed panels and attempted to install them near the cemetery, though local authorities quickly intervened.
Linda Hervieux, an author who explores the experiences of Black soldiers during World War II, remarked, “The removal of the panels follows a historical pattern of erasing the stories of people of color in the U.S.” She highlights how these soldiers were welcomed in Europe, contrasting the acceptance they received there with the segregation they faced back home.
This controversy underscores the ongoing struggle for recognition and remembrance of marginalized histories. The call to reinstate these panels reflects a broader desire to acknowledge the contributions of Black soldiers in the fight for freedom in Europe.
For more information, you can read about the significance of diversity in military history in reports from sources like the National Archives [here](https://www.archives.gov) or explore the experiences of soldiers in Hervieux’s work.
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Pentagon, DEI, Netherlands
