Rest in Peace Richard Winters

Richard Winters, c. 1944, as he'll be remembered by so many

Richard Winters, who was famously chronicled in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, as well as the book by Stephen Ambrose upon which the series was based, has died.  He was 92 years old. He stepped out of the public some years ago, citing his age and desire to enjoy some of that peace he promised himself all those years ago.  I would say he earned it. 

This is a sad day, and ironic time, for him to pass.  As we as a country tip toe around dealing with the chronic issues of our age that lead to the problems of our day, Richard Winters represented that Greatest Generation in many ways.  His quiet, self controlled dignity and courage, while living a life of gentle humility, seemed to be what we all imagined was best about that generation.  Of course it, like any, had its bad apples.  Yet when you look back, as much as we have salved our egos by convincing ourselves that whatever is bad today has always been that bad (and the absence of proof is just because folks weren't honest about such things back then), we can't help but feel there was something in that era, some foundational characteristic, that has been absent for some time.  A 'maturity' about them, something that suggested your average teenager then was about as mature as a fifty year old today.

I don't know.  I just know he was loved by his men, who held him in almost god-like veneration.  He didn't let things get to his head.  He lived the ultimate life that we ascribe to that era, and he along with those who served at that time did everything our country today no longer seems capable of doing.  Perhaps we'll pull out in time, who knows?  Maybe it will be from admitting that those generations had something that wouldn't be bad if we were to reclaim for ourselves. 

On a personal note, a few years back, one of his great grandsons had a Veterans Day performance that our local intermediate school puts on each year.  He was in attendance when the veterans were asked, as they always are, to stand up and be recognized.  My oldest boy informed me of this after it was over.  I could have screamed for missing it (my oldest boy was a year younger than the grade who put on the program).  Just missed him.  If only to have said thanks.  Oh well.

Nonetheless, God bless you Major Winters, may the perpetual light shine upon you, and may you rest in the peace of our Lord.