50,000 lei sought for Punchbowl
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Frank Niader is a retired truck driver and the son of a Pennsylvania coal miner.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
He never considered himself a writer, let alone poet. But when he found boxes of letters and mementos from his big brother, who was killed in action during World War II, Niader was inspired to write about the boy who never was allowed to grow up.
Pvt. William Niader, killed in the Battle of Okinawa at age 19, is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. His brother, who lives in New Jersey, has heard of the tradition of draping lei on grave markers.
The New Jersey resident said the poems aren't great literature, but they do express his feelings for his brother.
Pvt. William Niader was killed June 12, 1945, in the battle for Okinawa. William, who had turned 19 just two weeks earlier, is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
Niader never has visited his brother's grave but has heard about the tradition of placing lei at all of the graves on Memorial Day.
People have sent him pictures of his brother's grave marker, and he was impressed at how well cared for the cemetery is.
"I wish I could make it," he said from his home in New Jersey. "But I'll be 72 in three days, and I don't get around too much any more."
The city is seeking donations of 50,000 lei to decorate veterans' grave markers on Memorial Day.
The lei, or blossoms that can be strung into a lei, are for the Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony at Punchbowl.
On May 25, hundreds of Girl Scouts will be placing U.S. flags at the more than 4,000 graves at the Hawai'i State Veterans Cemetery in Kane'ohe.
FRANK NIADER
Thousands of schoolchildren over the years have perpetuated a cherished Island tradition — stringing plumeria lei for the graves at Punchbowl on Memorial Day. Other residents, including senior citizens, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, have been a major part of this annual effort.
Cemetery director Gene Castagnetti said the tribute is an important way for the living to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. He said the tradition sends a message to the families of the dead that their loved ones will never be forgotten.
The city is asking the public to donate 50,000 lei to decorate veterans' grave markers on Memorial Day. The lei, or blossoms that can be strung into a lei, are for the Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony at Punchbowl. Lei can be dropped off May 23 at the following locations: • From 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Ala Wai Community Park, Halawa District Park, Makua Ali'i Senior Center, Wai'anae District Park, Wahiawa District Park, Waiau District Park, Waipahu District Park, Kane'ohe Community and Senior Center and the Waikiki Community Center. • From 6 a.m. to noon at fire stations in Kalihi, Waipahu, Waialua, Kane'ohe, Kailua, Waimanalo and Hawai'i Kai. • From 8 a.m. to noon at the Honolulu Municipal Building, 650 S. King St.
"When you haven't visited the cemetery of your loved one and you see people there in a respectful manner, acknowledging the deeds that nobody had an opportunity to personally say to that person, those words are your words," Castagnetti said. "They may be said by an elected official, they may be said by some flag or general officer in the military today, or they may be said from some past veterans, but you have the emotion of knowing, that if this person had lived, he might have grown up to be one of these dignitaries."
Where to donate
William Niader was killed after he and another Marine retrieved a wounded soldier in the field. They had just put the stretcher down when a shell struck and killed William.
Frank Niader was 13 at the time, and he said he has missed his brother dearly. But he said his brother's death didn't really hit him until about 11 years ago.
"It didn't sink in until 1992, when my mother died and I was down to no family," Frank said. "So I said, 'Let me try this research,' and I found all of my brother's letters, and his ring and postcards."
William's last letter to his parents was written on his 19th birthday. He wrote that he had forgotten that it was his birthday.
"He wrote that the war in Europe was over, but 'My fight is over here. People are celebrating back home, but we're over here in the foxhole in the mud and the rain,' " Frank Niader said. He said his brother's letter was part of a recent PBS special on World War II.
William Niader would always include a message to his father, who was concerned about William's welfare. That inspired Frank to write a poem, "Tell Dad Not to Worry." He also wrote "What Could Have Been," in which Frank ponders would have happened if his brother had survived the war.
Niader never saw his brother again after he enlisted in the Marines.
"It still hurts," he said. "People don't realize it's never forgotten."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025, or e-mail at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com
