Recently, Lima lost another member of the greatest generation. Much has been reported on the death of Wayne Rader. I would like to add my own perspective on the life of this very remarkable man.
My father was in the same nursing facility as Wayne’s beloved wife, Elsie from 2004-2006. Every day, I witnessed Mr. Rader lovingly come to his wife’s side. He spent most of the day there. In the warm weather, he often rode his bicycle. I used to marvel with envy that a man as advanced in age as Mr. Rader could ride a bike all over town and I can barely keep my balance on one in my own backyard.
In the colder weather, Mr. Rader drove his car to see his wife. Another lady whose son was a resident on the same hall used to walk to the nursing home to see her son. Upon hearing this from the activities director that this was happening, Mr. Rader made it his personal responsibility to make sure that she got a ride home at night so she didn’t have to walk alone.
This simple act of kindness was typical of Mr. Rader and the men in his generation. They did this because, in their day, people looked out for one another. Neighbors helped neighbors, church congregations banded together to help a member in need. If you saw someone that needed help and you were able to help them, you did. That’s the way things were.
Mr. Rader was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and spent his life searching for the meaning of that fateful day. This too, was common in his generation. They were taught to honor, respect and have humility for God, family and country. It was an honor and a duty to serve your country and fight for its freedom.
Talk to any veteran and they will tell you that flying the American flag is an honor and a duty. That flag represents what they fought for: freedom. Mr. Rader spent many years teaching young children and some older ones too, how to respect the flag properly. He did this because that flag meant something to him and he never wanted its message to be forgotten.
Mr. Rader was married to his beloved Elsie for 56 years. This is something that few in my generation will see. When those in Mr. Rader’s generation married, it was for the long haul. You were there for better or worse, in sickness and health and all the rest. They took their marriage vows seriously. Marriage was a partnership, not something that one “tries on for size.” Hence, there were no “starter marriages” in his day. Instead, there were woven tapestries of love, honor, respect, hardship, pain and memories. This is what marriage was supposed to be.
Mr. Rader’s generation lived in a black and white world. By this, I don’t mean just the photographs that were taken in that era. Clear lines were drawn for young boys and girls to follow. Something was either right or it was wrong. There were no gray areas in that era. Rather, there were choices and consequences.
Today, we live in a very shady society. Parents are killing children. Children are killing their parents and peers. Sex, drugs and abuse reign in our country. Anything goes, thanks to the “do what you feel” movement of the sixties and seventies. One has to wonder if those survivors of Pearl Harbor and other wars even recognize the land that they fought so hard for.
Mr. Rader is gone but he has left us that survived his passing with a legacy. It is a legacy of honor, trust, respect, kindness, devotion and humility. This legacy has been passed down to us. In the words of the late JFK, “The torch has passed.” What will we do with it? Are we ready to change and get back to the values we were founded on or is it business as usual in the good ole USA?
Rest in peace, Mr. Rader, wherever you are. Have a safe journey home and know that some of us, old and young, still believe in what you fought for.