When mothers had sons serving during World War II, they received a small flag with a blue star for each child that was in the military. If a mother lost one to the war, the blue star was replaced or covered over by a gold star. The flag would hang in the window of their home. 

Ada Stephens Cooper had two sons that fought in World War II. Sadly, Delmus was killed in France on January 5, 1945, at the young age of 20. Here is a poem that Ada wrote in grief over the loss of her son.

My Star of Hope

As I look from out my window
And in the sky so far
A tiny ship at anchor
There shown a golden star.

'Tis a lamp set in his window
A light unto my feet
Both he and I are waiting,
Until we two shall meet.

My star of hope, so precious
I call this golden star
It shineth in my sorrow
My loved one lost in the war.
~Ada Stephens Cooper~

Elbert and Delmus met in France just a few days before Delmus was killed. Elbert wrote the following poem, about the grief that his mother felt......A truly poignant poem from his heart.

Turned To Gold

I think the saddest day
That someone ever told
When someone tells a mother
That her blue star turned to gold.

Her head goes up so proudly
While her heart within her dies
She may be choked with sorrow
But she never cries.

She has waited for days on end
For the war to pass
When she could see her son again
And hold him close at last.

Now, the news has come
In words so bleak and cold
Which tells her what she fears;
Her blue star has turned to gold.
~Elbert Cooper~

Elbert came home from that war, but he never forgot the horror he went through. He married & had two children. He was a very special person in his family's eyes. This page is done to honor him, his brother & his mother.

To read the story behind these poems, click on the "Next" button.

If you wish to be notified when a new page is done, CLICK HERE
to email me & I will put you on my mailing list.