When you meet Nelda Bleckler, president of the local Rose Saak Chapter and Missouri Chapter of the American War Mothers, it's not difficult to see why veterans look forward to her visits.

Some may say the American War Mothers is a dying organization, at least on the local level, where the Rose Saak Chapter #42 has only three paid members. Out of those three, only one, Bleckler, is still active.

The other two, Irene Shannon and Faye Lake, aren't able to do what an American War Mother does. Shannon is 94 and lives in a local nursing home, while Lake resides in Texas part-time and travels often with her husband.

None the less, Bleckler makes sure the American War Mothers' work goes on. Bleckler takes part in three ceremonies on Veterans Day, one at the Park Hills Senior Center, another at the St. Francois County Courthouse and the last one at the Farmington VFW Hall.

Bleckler dresses up as Santa Claus for Christmas, visiting local veterans throughout the area. For each major holiday Bleckler hands out gifts to veterans, such as name plates for their doors or bookmarks for their Bibles.

Bleckler first joined the War Mothers in 1974, when her oldest son, John, joined the Air Force. Shannon, who lost a son in World War II, called Bleckler and invited her to join.

"I heard what all they did and I jumped in with both feet," Nelda said. "I figured if I could do for my boy (John), I could do for others."

Every Easter since she joined, Nelda has taken Easter eggs to veterans. She used to not be the only one taking them, but the former mothers have either passed away or simply are not able to be involved anymore.

Nelda is full of stories, her weathered face breaking into a smile with even the saddest of memories. It's evident the woman is a "glass-half full" person, even when telling of John's death because of cancer in 1998.

John had joined the military with dreams of being an architect, but when his grandmother became ill, he allowed his college money to be used for her medical care. Instead of college, John served in the Air Force until he retired in 1994.

John, whom Nelda describes as "the light of my life," received a full-military burial on the same day a former "Unknown Soldier" from Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., was being buried in Illinois. Jets which were headed to Illinois for a military fly-over, incidentally flew by John's graveside service.

"Just perfect timing, they flew right over the cemetery, and talk about a heart-breaker," Nelda said.

Shortly after John's funeral, a puppy he befriended and called "Empty," went to lay down on one of John's shirts as Nelda sat and watched. The puppy laid down and died, the veterinarian saying the animal "must have grieved himself to death."

After her son's death, Nelda took some of John's clothes and shoes to veterans she knew could use them.

"That's the way my son was. He'd say, 'Well mom, if they could use that, I won't need it anyway. Go ahead and give it to them,'" Nelda said.

It isn't hard to realize the toll time and age has taken on the Rose Saak Chapter, especially when Nelda is the only one riding for the War Mothers in the Farmington Country Days parade.

She used to be flanked by several people, but a few years ago Nelda discovered she was the only one riding on the mule-pulled wagon the War Mothers always rode on in the parade. Nelda will be in this year's parade, but may trade in the wagon for a convertible her daughter owns and will be driving for her mother.

Nelda is currently serving her third term as state president of the War Mothers, and has never missed a state convention. She's made eight national conventions and has served as color bearer twice for a Mother's Day presentation at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

The American War Mothers flag is the only flag flown, along with the United States flag, at Arlington on Mother's Day.

"Somebody said, 'Oh, you like being in the limelight,'" Nelda said. "I said, 'Yeah, as long as I get to do something.'"

Nelda doesn't just visit with veterans on holidays, but nearly every day. She may not bring gifts every time, but she does her best to make sure the veterans have their needs taken care of.

"And if he (veteran) doesn't have a smile, ask him if he wants part of yours, or yours. And just pass it around," Nelda said.

Nelda said "it's hard to describe how you feel about your veterans," but added her favorite veteran is one who doesn't have any family or friends.

"I come see them," said Nelda of the loneliest veterans.

Nelda is hosting an information and recruiting day at the Desloge VFW at 2 p.m. on May 18 to try and "get new blood" for the Rose Saak Chapter. It isn't that Nelda is tired or ready to quit, she just simply wants to provide for the veterans even more than she currently can.

Nelda is far from giving in, denying claims her organization may be passed its time.

"Well they ought to follow in my footsteps," Nelda says to her critics. "But they better be able to keep up. Wear comfortable shoes."

While it's not expensive to be a member of the chapter, Nelda said she wouldn't be able to keep the chapter alive if she were the only member because of financial constraints.

"If I lose every member in my chapter, I'm going to be active as a unit," Nelda said, adding a unit is less expensive.

For a woman who built her own home, literally by herself, hard work is nothing new. She emphasizes she doesn't want people's sympathy, just their help for veterans she calls "lost and forgotten."

It's a cause Nelda lives for, a cause she deems worthy of her time. She just hopes she can find someone else who feels the same way.

Bleckler Among Delegates to National War Mothers Convention
By C. CLINE\Daily Journal Staff Writer - Sep 25, 2003