Gold Star Mother

Stories & Poems About War

In Memory

Catherine Niader and Pvt William Niader

K.I.A. June 12, 1945

Kunishi Ridge, Okinawa

GOLD STAR MOTHER

I cried out in pain as I read the letter;

My life from this day will never get better.

The lines were blurred as I tried to see

The words that said my son died for country and me.

The years go by, and I still call his name;

The dreams I had will never be the same.

The memories that were of the son I had

Are now nightmares when my days are bad.

Part of me died when my son was killed;

There is an emptiness that can never be filled.

Night after night as I lie in my bed,

I still can’t believe my son is dead.

But the love of a mother can never die,

And I can’t forget, and I sometimes cry.

I keep on living, but I think of the past;

The years go by ever so fast.

When my life on this Earth is finally done,

The emptiness will be gone for I’ll be with my son.

In my thoughts I can see him still;

In my dreams I call his name, Bill.

Frank Niader

807 Van Houten Ave.

Clifton, NJ 07013

June 2000