Frankfurt, Germany—The following opinion piece is authored by Carl Landon Schetter Taylor, a U.S. Army veteran residing in Germany, Pennsylvania UOCAVA voter, and member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus. The piece is a response to the Trump Administration’s disturbing pattern of removing significant and historically accurate information about the U.S. military’s uniformed heroes of minority descent, this time centering on the recent removal of educational panels at the Netherlands American Cemetery detailing African Americans’ involvement in World War II.
As an African-American veteran, I was deeply troubled to learn that the memorial panels honoring Black soldiers at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten were quietly removed. These men served our nation with courage and conviction in World War II – often in segregated units, under unequal conditions, and with limited recognition for their service.
They fought for democracy abroad even as they were denied it at home. That contradiction does not diminish their service – it magnifies their heroism. To remove even a small acknowledgement of their story from sacred ground dishonors the truth of what they endured and what they gave.
The American Battle Monuments Committee (ABMC) has suggested the panels were part of a rotating exhibit. However, the contributions of Black service members are not something that should be allowed to “rotate out” of our collective memory. Their story is part of the foundation of America’s military legacy - and part of the promise we make when we say we will never forget.
As veterans, we understand the meaning of sacrifice. We know that history is not always comfortable, but honesty about our past is what gives our service meaning. To omit stories is to lose part of ourselves – a part of what we fought for.
Our duty now is to ensure that every soldier’s story is told, honored, and remembered – especially those whose service was overlooked for too long. The men buried in Margraten fought for our freedom. Period. At the very least, we can fight for their memory.
This isn’t a “Black issue” or an “expat issue”; it’s an American issue. We must reaffirm our nation’s commitment to honoring all who sacrificed for liberty – equally, truthfully, and without erasure. Neither the ABMC nor the White House should have the unilateral power to remove these educational panels, which accurately tell the American story of heroic Black service members during WWII. I encourage every Democrats Abroad member to call the ABMC (+1 703-584-1501) and demand that the cemetery at Margraten reinstall the panels they removed on Black service members.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The Global VMF Caucus, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has a membership of over 1,400 members located in dozens of countries.
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