Mothers get gold star

Six mothers who up until a few months ago had never met, stood side-by-side solemnly at the front of the upstairs of St. Mark’s Church in Jackson Heights, united by a common pain - the loss of their son.
The six women, five of whom are from Queens and one from Washington Heights, Manhattan, all have experienced tremendous pain in the last two years when their sons died or went missing in action while serving in the military overseas.
Roselle Calero, mother of Queens Village Major Jeffrey Calero; Maria Gomez, mother of Corona Sergeant Jose Gomez; Martha Clark, mother of Jackson Heights Specialist Jonathan Rivadeneira; Gladys Ciro, mother of Corona Specialist Marlon Bustamante; and Maria Alcantara, mother of Washington Heights Corporal Juan Alcantara; joined Maria del Rosario Duran whose son Alex Jimenez has been missing in Iraq since May for a special military presentation.
The six mothers received American Gold Stars on Saturday, December 8 at the annual graduation ceremony for the New York Military Youth Cadets - a non-profit multicultural community-based organization that provides military-based programs for boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18.
“Yes, I had to be here today, and be there for them [the other mothers] too,” Calero said. “I controlled myself, because I wanted to cry all the time.”
During the emotional ceremony, Command Sergeant Major Juan Caez from the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton Command Group presented the Gold Stars to the women whose sons’ paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.
“At a moment’s notice they’re gone, and the mothers have to deal with the pain,” Caez said.
In addition to receiving the Gold Stars, the New York Military Youth Cadets Founder and Commander Alirio Orduña told the women that they would always be a part of his family and the organization’s family.
Orduña who started the cadet group in 2001 as an alternative to children hanging out on the streets and getting involved in gangs, said the organization aims to develop self-confidence, discipline, respect for society and leadership traits while performing outreach to the community.
At the ceremony, the 16 graduates of the cadet group as well as other members of the organization received certificates from Governor Eliot Spitzer, State Senator John Sabini.
“It was very emotional when I presented for the first time the Presidential Service Award,” Orduña said. “They see we are doing something good for the children and the community as well.”
After the nearly three-hour award ceremony, the cadets, their parents and friends all went down to the basement to enjoy food and soft drinks to celebrate their accomplishments.
In the back corner of the room, the six mothers continued their conversations, sharing stories about their sons and getting to know each other better - something Calero said is part of the healing process.
“Sure it does [help] because they are feeling the same pain that we do,” she said. “It’s so wonderful getting together with them.”