E. Thompson, Gold Star Mother

THOMPSON, LATHROP, SMITH, ECKES, RIGGS

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 5/3/2005 at 06:51:21

Mrs. Emma Thompson, Nashua's Gold Star mother, has received notification from the department to prepare to sail for France on Wednesday, May 14, when the first contingent will go aboard the S.S. President Harding to sail for France to visit the cemeteries where their sons who fell in the World War are interred. Mrs. thompson will go to Waterloo the afternoon of May 10, from which place in company with other Gold Star mothers she will leave at 12:45 that night for New York city. On board the President Harding she will have as cabin companions several Gold Star mothers from Waterloo.

-Nashua Reporter, May 7, 1930

______________________________________________

Our Gold Star Mother Writes Nashua Friends.
We are privileged to publish the following letter from Nashua's gold Star Mother, Mrs. Emma Thompson. The letter was addressed to "Mrs. Lathrop, Smith, Eckes and Riggs:
United States Lines SS
May 19
Dear Friends
This is ging to be a family letter. I am sitting on the third deck in the sun feeling fine. But I have had sea sickness with all its trimmings, but that don't hurt any one. It is nearly dinner time (or lunch as they call it). We sure are waited on, all but put the food in our mouths. We saw another large ship last night, going the same way. Ours is heavily loaded, there being 450 Gold Star Mothers on board, besides more than 1,000 other passengers. We are (the Gold Star Mothers) to have our pictures taken today after lunch. We will be grouped by states. The ship is quite crowded, have four in a small room, four beds, two lower and two upper. If we could have had the Harding we would have had much more room and better accommodations, but it was out of order. We expect to land on Friday of this week. It is taking longer to make the trip than expected. We have a bath every night in salt water and it makes one feel fine. Everything is so clean and neat, and the food is very good. It is interesting to see the different kinds of people, but no colored people such as negroes. The high and mighty, think they are it, but we Mothers are the favored guests on board. While in New York they took us in buses to parks and places of interest, and all around it has been a fine trip, only for the seasickness. Some are not sick. Will tell all about it when we get home. I am in a room with Waterloo ladies whom I knew, and one other lady, four in all. I am not stong enough to walk the deck much yet, but will try it this afternoon. The doctor wants me to go on the upper deck, out in the sun, but the wind os so strong I don't think I will. One lady lost her hat out on the lower deck, the wind blows so very hard. Well, it is abut time to eat, so will close. Love to all my friends.
Mrs. Emma Thompson

-Nashua Reporter, June 11, 1930

______________________________________________
Mrs. Emma Thompson arrived home Friday frm her trip to France with other Gold Star Mothers, where she visited the grave of her son, Robert Thompson, who gave his life in the World War. Mrs. Thompson has quite a collection of pictures and suvenirs, and can tell an interesting story of her trip. She says the treatment the Gold Star Mothers received from the government was simply wonderful. Every need was anticipated by attendants and looked after.

-Nashua Reporter, June 25, 1930

(note: submitter is not related)