SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — World War II claimed the lives of more than 950 soldiers from Schuylkill County. Not all of their bodies made it home, but their graves have not been neglected in the countries they freed from Nazi occupation.
On Wednesday, the borough council welcomed the Dutch family who adopted and cares for the graves of two Schuylkill Haven soldiers at the World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
The 65-acre cemetery in the southern point of the country has 8,301 American soldiers buried there and a monument with the names of 1,722 who were never identified. Every grave has a volunteer caretaker and a waiting list of adoptions.
The graves of Gustav F. Anchorstar and Jack R. Kremer, both of Schuylkill Haven, were adopted by Johan Heijkers, his wife, Maud Ramakers, and their daughter, Rose, 9.
“We want to show appreciation for what they have done for us, for our freedom and what we have now,” Johan Heijkers said.
The Heijkers are spending two weeks in America with Richard Nagle, a borough resident and historian who operates www.schuylkillhavenhistory.com.
“In 2009, a couple years into our website, I received an email from a gentleman from Holland who told me the story of what happens at the American Cemetery in Margraten and how they honor the graves of the American dead by adopting them and from time to time decorate them with flowers and flags as a sign of their thankfulness now 70 years after the war,” Nagle said. “I thought this was rather remarkable and very telling that Johan, who is two generations removed from the war, still feels a responsibility to do it and is now passing it on to Rose, his daughter.”
Johan Heijkers said he first contacted Nagle to see if he had a picture of Anchorstar or if he had any living family members. Heijkers then learned about the other Schuylkill Haven soldiers, at least eight, buried in his country and Nagle asked him to spread some soil from their hometown on their gravesites.
“We just wanted to thank them and their countrymen for what they do,” Nagle said. “I think it is outstanding for them to do this for the men from our country who made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home. On behalf of Schuylkill Haven, I just want to thank you very much.”
Two years ago, Nagle and his family took a trip to visit the Heijkers and the cemetery. It was then that he extended the invitation to come stay with him in Schuylkill Haven.
Borough Mayor Mike Devlin gave a presentation for the council about the American Netherlands Cemetery and the adoption program.
“There is a long waiting list to adopt a grave in the Netherlands and Johan and his family were fortunate to get one and we were very fortunate to have them do that for us,” Devlin said.
Devlin presented them with a letter of recognition, as did former borough mayor and county Commissioner Gary J. Hess and state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125.
Also thanking the Heijkers were local WWII veterans. George Jackson, Landingville, said he was deployed to Netherlands during WWII and some of his friends are buried in that cemetery.
“It’s amazing to see people take care of your friends,” he said.
Johan said Rose wanted to see two things during their stay in America: the Statue of Liberty and the White House. Last week, they went on a trip to New York City and later this week they will be going to Washington, D.C. Nagle said U.S. state Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, and Tobash got them tickets to visit the White House.
The Heijkers said they were not expecting to be recognized Wednesday evening.
“It was a real surprise,” Johan said.
“It was very overwhelming,” Maud said.