A promise kept, father honored in trip to Alaska to compete in National Veterans Golden Age Games

When the National Veterans Golden Age Games commence in Anchorage, Alaska, in June, Mary Jayne Bader of Poplar Bluff will be among the participants. Bader will be competing for the third time, and is excited at the opportunity to once again test her physical abilities.

According to Bader this will be the 32nd year for the games, which will draw over 700 participants from throughout the United States. Bader, who has previously earned medals in powerwalking, table tennis and badminton, and placed in bowling and swimming, is still undecided about the areas she will choose for competition this year.

“I have until Feb. 23 to decide,” the enthusiastic veteran says. “I may try the field games — I think I would like the throwing events like shot put and javelin.”

Bader, who is 60, says she is also considering badminton again, as well as shuffleboard and pickleball.

The games are open to all veterans age 55 and older, who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Bader says. The goal of the event, according to the NVGAG website, is to improve the quality of life for older veterans by offering participation in ambulatory, visually impaired and wheelchair divisions.

Mary Jayne Bader sits at her desk at John J. Pershing VAMC.DAR/Nancy Nelson Vines

Some of the events include air rifle and air pistol competitions; boccia, which is a precision ball sport for wheelchair athletes; basketball; cycling; blind disc golf; bowling; and horseshoes among others.

“What thrills me,” explains Bader, “is seeing those athletes in their 80s, who have great physiques and are in such good shape.

“Most of them say, though,” she adds, “that they wish they had taken care of themselves when they were younger, because then they wouldn’t have to work so hard at it now.”

Bader first became interested in the games in 2012 when they were held in St. Louis. She took her 83-year-old father that year and he competed in croquet, checkers and dominoes. He earned two silver medals and a bronze.

Bader lost her father in 2015, but she had promised him that she would continue to participate in the games, so in 2016 she traveled to Detroit, Michigan, for her first contest.

“I couldn’t take part in 2017,” she says, “because of health issues, but I was back at it last year in Albuquerque, and am really looking forward to traveling to Alaska.”

Although meals are provided once participants arrive at the games, travel expenses and lodging are up to the individual veteran, according to Bader.

The event will be held from June 5-10 and the hotel for only those nights will be over $1,200.

“It is expensive for an individual to fund his or her own trip,” Bader says, before reflecting, “Supporters have been generous in the past and I appreciate those who help me continue this personal journey.”

Bader will be retiring from John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in May, where she has worked since 2004. She is the Program Support Assistant in the TeleMedicine Department. She is married to Mark Bader and lives in Poplar Bluff.