Monuments Men and Women Foundation and Ancestry Companies Partner to Fulfill a WWII Promise
- Forever Promise Project
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Forever Promise Project Aims to Connect American Soldiers’ Families with Dutch Citizens Who Adopted Their Graves
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALLAS, TX — May 20, 2025 — DALLAS, TX (May 20, 2025) — The Monuments Men and Women Foundation (MMWF) announces a landmark partnership with Fold3 by Ancestry and Find a Grave, two of the most widely used platforms for military and burial records. Together, they will support the Forever Promise Project, an initiative launched by the MMWF to fulfill the original mission of the Dutch grave adoption program: to connect the families of fallen American service members with the Dutch individuals who care for their graves at the Netherlands American Cemetery.
The initiative builds upon the historic Margraten grave adoption program launched in early 1945, when Dutch townspeople began honoring fallen U.S. soldiers by adopting their graves, laying flowers, and preserving their memory as a lasting gesture of gratitude.
In September 1945, Mrs. Emilie Michiels van Kessenich, wife of the mayor of the Dutch town of Maastricht, wrote U.S. President Harry Truman with a heartfelt plea:
“Now that most of the Army has gone back to the States, and only your fallen heroes remain in our soil, we want to establish a lasting tie between their relatives and our people.”
Even after her June 1946 trip to the United States to raise awareness and gather names and addresses of American next of kin, the Dutch grave adoption program has never had contact information for more than 20% of the families whose loved ones rest at Margraten.
The Forever Promise Project seeks to close that gap, aiming to connect every Dutch adopter with a relative of “their” American soldier. With the expansive digital reach of Fold3 and Find a Grave—platforms used by millions of genealogists, historians, and volunteers—the MMWF can accelerate this effort and invite the public to join in the search to locate American family members.
“Fold3 by Ancestry and Find a Grave are proud to join the Forever Promise Project in honoring our nation's military veterans,” said Kathryn Davidson, Director of Marketing, Ancestry Family History Verticals. “We are dedicated to offering access to the valuable military records and grave memorials that preserve their legacy of service.”
As part of the collaboration, Find a Grave has added a custom Forever Promise badge to every relevant memorial page, linking users directly to ForeverPromise.org to begin the connection process. Fold3 will feature the initiative in a dedicated blog post, encouraging users to explore military service records and uncover the personal stories behind the names at the Netherlands American Cemetery. In turn, the MMWF is integrating Find a Grave links into its own database, further helping families identify their loved ones.
“This collaboration underscores the power of partnerships to achieve what no single organization can do alone,” said Anna Bottinelli, President of the MMWF. “We are grateful to Fold3 and Find a Grave for helping bring greater visibility to a forever promise that began as a localized act of gratitude and has grown into a powerful symbol of humanity, compassion, and grace.”
The Forever Promise Project is closely tied to the launch of Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II, the new book by Robert M. Edsel, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and founder and chairman of the MMWF, which details the deeply personal connections formed between Dutch families and the American soldiers who liberated their homeland.
“The Forever Promise Project preserves the memory of these American heroes not only across oceans, but generations,” said Edsel. “After all, we all want to be remembered somehow, someway, by somebody.
Families of those buried at Margraten or memorialized on the Walls of the Missing are encouraged to visit ForeverPromise.org to complete a short form to begin the process to be connected, at no cost, with the Dutch family who is the adopter of their loved one’s grave.
About the Forever Promise Project
The Forever Promise Project, a partnership between the Monuments Men and Women Foundation and the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery Margraten, seeks to connect American families with the Dutch adopters of their fallen relatives. Learn more at www.foreverpromise.org
About the Monuments Men and Women Foundation
The Monuments Men and Women Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting our shared cultural heritage by honoring the legacy of the Monuments Men and Women of WWII. Through public awareness campaigns, restitution efforts, and partnerships, the Foundation continues their mission. Learn more at www.mmwf.org
About the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery Margraten
Founded in 1945, the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery Margraten manages the 9,0000 Dutch adopters who watch over the 8,300 Americans buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and the 1,700 names on the Walls of the Missing. Learn more at www.adoptiegraven-margraten.nl/en
About Fold3
Fold3 provides online access to military records, photos, and personal stories of those who served. Named for the ceremonial third fold of the flag, the platform helps users honor veterans by creating digital memorials and sharing their service histories. Learn more at www.fold3.com
About Find a Grave
Find a Grave is a free online resource for locating the final resting places of friends, family, and notable figures. With millions of memorials featuring photos and biographical details, it’s a vital tool for genealogists and history enthusiasts alike. Learn more at www.findagrave.com
Media Contact:
Shelby Landgraf
+1 214-219-1222