Rolland ‘Ron’ Carter takes a ride Sept. 2, 2022 for his 100th birthday with Battle Born Harley-Davidson road captain Kim Walter.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Battle Born Harley-Davidson road captain Kim Walter, taking Carson Tahoe Expressions Memory Care resident Rolland “Ron” Carter on his special ride for his birthday celebration, heard him say the few words he spoke Friday as he held on to her on the back of her motorcycle.
“He told me when we were coming around the corner, he asked, ‘Does this thing make any sound?’” she said. “So I’m sure you all heard me ask him, ‘Should we light it up again?’ And he said, ‘That’s a beautiful sound,’ and I said, ‘I’m so happy you’re so happy.’”
Carter always wanted to ride a motorcycle for his 100th birthday with family and friends, and his request was provided by Battle Born Harley-Davidson and its Harley Owners Group (HOG). Family members traveled from Oregon, where Carter and his wife Margaret used to live, minister and work, to honor his accomplishments as an Army veteran, former music teacher and licensed pilot. Originally from Evansville, Ind., he began traveling across the country opening Baptist churches and has served in nine churches in Nevada, Oregon and California.
Although he never spoke much about serving in World War II until recently, according to his son Dean Carter, now, if he sees war documentaries come up on television, he shares a little more about his service as an Army medic. Dean Carter said his father served in the New Guinea campaign, which lasted from about January 1942 until August 1945, and helped to remove wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
“He still had a motorcycle until two years ago and used to ride it,” Dean said of his father. “We took it away. We were going to bring it down for this, but this is much better.”
Carter’s stepdaughter, Nicole Santome of Salem, Ore., recalled him riding his bike regularly to church and said he remains in excellent health, and her mother still visits him at Carson Tahoe.
“He’s a really great stepdad, he’s so kind,” she said. “I’m just so grateful he’s a part of my life.”
After Battle Born Harley riders took Carter for his ride, Carson Tahoe’s staff and family members topped off the event with liquid nitrogen ice cream for purchase and the group enjoyed cake as well.
A Plus Hospice Care also arranged to honor him with a flag ceremony and pinning to thank Carter for his military service. Craig “Bear” Stevens, vice president of business development, said the company seeks to provide veterans around Northern Nevada with pinnings, flag ceremonies, breakfasts or any recognitions upon request in assisted living facilities or interventions to ensure they are recognized accordingly for their service. A Plus can serve veterans in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Dayton, Minden, Gardnerville or beyond if needed or arrange to have ceremonies or recognitions done elsewhere.
“Many people become secluded and afraid to go out, but if you introduce to them to others with common values and goals and bring a bunch of veterans, now they have a friend,” Stevens said. “Now it’s not so much about getting out of there. It’s really special.”
