KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Rain floated down like whispers from heaven Saturday on the graves of 451 American children, most of whom did not live past 6 months.

The tiny plots at Kaiserslautern Main Cemetery mark the final resting place for the children who died primarily at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and other area hospitals, and were buried between 1952 and 1971.

The annual ceremony attended by U.S. military and German officials Saturday morning honors the infants who are buried at the cemetery. It is held on the first Saturday following Mother’s Day.

For the event, each grave marker was adorned with a carnation and an American flag. The flower and the flag served as symbols of a mother’s love and a country’s caring, said retired Chief Master Sgt. Terry DeLay, event coordinator.

Air Force and Army officials Saturday offered words of remembrance, lit candles and laid wreaths to honor the children who were taken before their time.

“Over the years, this has brought closure to dozens of family members,” DeLay said.

At the time of the children’s burials, neither the American Red Cross nor Department of Defense assistance were available to transport the bodies stateside.

Originally, the children were buried at two separate sites in the cemetery. Kaiserslautern officials moved all graves to a single, 400-square-yard location that was unused in the cemetery.

In 1986, the Ramstein Area Chief’s Group and Kaiserslautern city officials signed a 25-year contract preserving the grave site in the cemetery.

“The long-term intent is that this be renewed in perpetuity,” said Brig. Gen. Rosanne Bailey, commander of the 435th Air Base Wing and Kaiserslautern military community.

Bailey spoke of the peace she hopes the children and their families find. She also reminded the crowd of several dozen that the graves hold something greater.

“Let us not forget, each of these graves has a story,” she said.

Chief Master Sgt. Jay Willis, manager of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe band, did his part to remember the deceased Saturday — as he has done before at European cemeteries where Americans are buried.

Following the ceremony, in which he sang the American and German national anthems, Willis took the time to read the names from the grave markers.

So why did Willis walk past all the graves in on-and-off drizzle after the ceremony ended?

“To honor those families and their children who are buried here,” he said. “What a nice remembrance it was for them with everyone here today.”