Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Gabay, a senior operations advisor assigned to the...... read more read more
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DODJII, Senegal – More than 8,300 U.S. service members who gave their lives during World War II are buried at the American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. Within six months of the war’s end, every single grave had been adopted by a local Dutch family, a tradition that continues unbroken to this day.
"It is considered a great honor," said Royal Dutch Army Capt. Lars Roijen. "Every family takes it seriously. Each generation is taught how to maintain this tradition and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice."
That sense of duty and gratitude formed the foundation for an unexpected bond between Roijen and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Gabay, who met each other during the African Lion 2025 (AL25) initial planning event held in Agadir, Morocco last September.
During a break, the two struck up a conversation, trading travel stories from across Europe. When Gabay shared that he had visited the cemetery in Margraten to honor a fallen member of his family, the tone shifted.
Their casual exchange gave way to something far more personal.
"The reason I visited Margraten was because my great uncle, Sgt. Eugene T. Gabay, is buried there," Gabay explained. "He was killed in action when his B-24 bomber was hit during a mission over Germany."
Moved by the connection, Roijen shared that he was from Margraten and understood the significance of the cemetery and its adopted graves.
Without hesitation, he made a promise.
"When I return home this weekend, I will adopt his grave," Roijen told Gabay.
True to his word, Roijen contacted his new friend. Only a few days later, he sent photos of himself and his young son visiting the grave of Sgt. Eugene Gabay.
"Respect for military tradition runs deep in my family," said Gabay. "Captain Roijen’s gesture was not taken lightly. It meant the world to us."
Fast forward from the initial planning event, Gabay and Roijen now continue their connection, this time in Senegal supporting AL25.
African Lion is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual exercise, focused on strengthening partnerships, building interoperability and reinforcing shared security commitments with African and allied nations.
"This was more than just a kind gesture," Gabay said. "It’s a reminder that even today, alliances are built on more than strategy. They're built on mutual respect, history, and people who care about building a better future for their children."
As service members from across continents train together, this story reflects the enduring spirit behind exercises like AL25. The bond between Gabay and Roijen—forged in remembrance and sealed in action—embodies the very heart of international cooperation and partnership.
Today, Gabay serves as a senior operations advisor with the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2SFAB), working alongside partner forces to strengthen military capacity and cooperation. Roijen, a logistics officer with the Royal Netherlands Army’s 13 Light Brigade, serves as the Dutch lead planner for AL25, responsible for coordinating his nation’s participation throughout the yearlong planning cycle.
“On a personal level, I always love working together with the U.S.,” Roijen said. “They are an important and long-lasting partner for us, and I want to make sure it stays that way for future generations.”
About 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2SFAB)
The 2SFAB, based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is a specialized U.S. Army unit trained to conduct security force assistance missions. Composed of hand-selected, highly trained Soldiers, 2SFAB teams work directly with partner nation militaries around the globe to build capacity, enhance interoperability, and strengthen military-to-military relationships.
About African Lion 2025
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
For all photos, videos and article throughout the exercise, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/AfricanLionEx
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2025 04:43 |
| Story ID: | 497493 |
| Location: | DODJI, SN |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honoring the fallen, uniting the living: A legacy rekindled at African Lion 2025, by SFC Solomon Navarro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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