ARLINGTON, Va., May 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 8, 1945 the world celebrated the end of World War II in Europe, but for some young American children it represented the beginning of a lifetime without their fathers. It's estimated that more than 180,000 American children were left fatherless after the war. "War always leaves behind dead soldiers, grieving widows, grieving parents and children, who have suffered a loss over which they have no control," said Geraldine Conway Morenski, whose father is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery.
Seventy years later, more than 50 of these men and women, who belong to the American World War II Orphans Network (AWON), will be traveling together to Netherlands American Cemetery for Memorial Day 2015 to visit the final resting place of their fathers. For some it will be their very first trip, and for others it will be a welcome return to these hallowed grounds. For most, they have no distinct memories of their father, other than stories shared from relatives or from letters he penned during the war. "I never knew my father. I never had a relationship with him," said Arthur Chotin, whose father is also buried at the cemetery. "I never had someone who I could either hate or love. He was always a story to me."
For all members of AWON traveling to the Netherlands, the visit represents an opportunity to connect with their fathers, to thank the Dutch for their long-standing commitment to honor and remember, and to build relationships with other men and women who have experienced the loss of a parent in war.
"We all are orphans, but we all have our own stories because we all have different circumstances," said Billie Ann Myers Meeks, whose father is buried in the Netherlands. "We'll always have a special place in our hearts for each other because we've walked down that road."
In talking with these men and women, they still feel the loss of their fathers nearly every day. They talk about missing both the big and small events. "There was nobody there to teach me to drive, or to walk me down the aisle," said Patricia Rathje, whose father and uncle are buried side-by-side at the cemetery.
Follow along on their journey via the website, Facebook, and Instagram as they return to Netherlands American Cemetery this weekend.
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