Dutch family has cared for graves of American soldiers for 80 years

But until recently, his family back in New York did not know that his grave site is lovingly tended to by his adopted family in the Netherlands. - Isabel Vincent

Three generations of a Dutch family have been the caretakers of an American soldier’s grave since 1945 — and promise future descendants will do the same.

• Ernest Francis Fichtl Jr., from the Little Neck neighborhood of Queens, was killed during one of World War II’s bloodiest European battles and is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten.
• But until recently, his family back in New York did not know that his grave site is lovingly tended to by his adopted family in the Netherlands. 

And it’s not the only one...