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From 1952 to 1971, American infants who died at birth or shortly after at the American military hospital at Landstuhl or nearby civilian hospitals were buried in the Kaiserslautern Main Cemetery adjacent to the U.S. Army Daenner Kaserne. At the time of these deaths, transporting the departed stateside was not available.
The city of Kaiserslautern donated two public burial plots during the initial years, but the lease for these plots expired in 1986. In Germany, families have to make lease payments or risk losing burial plots.
To prevent losing the plots, the German-American and International Women’s Club secured the graves through donations. The gravesites were then moved to the heart of the cemetery and a new lease was drafted.
Now every year following Mother’s Day, a ceremony is held for these children.
“Those children are the symbol and the reason for us to foster a relationship,” said Bruni Pütz, member of the GAIWC. “The city of Kaiserslautern provided the land and it’s a great symbol of compassion and close friendship.”
After remarks from U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Josh Olson, 86th Airlift commander, leaders from across the wing lit candles for the deceased and led everyone in attendance to the gravesites.
“This ceremony is a way for us to always remember the children that are buried there and honor the families that had to leave their children behind, which is an incredibly tough situation,” said Chief Master Sgt. Marc Gonsalves, chief enlisted manager at the 37th Airlift Squadron and co-chair of the Kindergraves Memorial Foundation.
