Robert M. Edsel

HOME | Forever Promise Project | Connecting US Families with the Dutch Adopters of Their Loved Ones The Forever Promise Project is a partnership between two nonprofit organizations: the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, and the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery Margraten (Stichting Adoptie Graven Amerikaanse Begraafplaats Margraten). It was created to realize the original objectiv...

Happy Mother’s Day!

On this day when we honor not only the mothers who gave us life, but also the women who have stepped forward to nurture, protect, and care for others as their own, I want to share the story of one remarkable Dutch mother whose promise became a lasting bond between nations.

Emilie Michiels van Kessenich, a mother of twelve, looked upon the American soldiers buried far from home at Margraten and made an extraordinary vow to their families: “Leave your boys with us; we will watch over them like our own, forever.”

Decades later, that promise still lives on through the Dutch families who continue to care for these graves with a kind of love that feels especially familiar on this day.

With gratitude to all the mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers whose love shapes lives in seen and unseen ways.

Happy Mother’s Day.

"Remember Us" Book by Robert M. Edsel | Mothers Available now! Order on: Amazon https://a.co/d/5qFbusoBarnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reme...Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Remember-U......

Staff Sergeant Leon Arthur Leonard Byers grew up in Dallas, Texas and attended Forest Avenue High School, (later known as James Madison), whose alumni also include TV producer Aaron Spelling and Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus.

Byers enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943 and served as a waist gunner on a B-24 bomber named "I’ll Be Around."

On a mission over Germany, after his group dropped their bombs, his aircraft came under attack when their fighter es**rt was pulled away. Enemy fire struck the plane, killing Leon and another gunner instantly. He was just 19 years old.

Today, he rests at the Netherlands American Cemetery.

A Dutch adopter visits his grave and ensures he is never forgotten. This Memorial May, we are hoping to find something more.

We are searching for Leon’s family.

If you are related to Staff Sergeant Leon A. Byers, or know someone who might be, please reach out or share this post. Someone you know may be the connection that helps complete this promise.