The family line

Firefighter Jack Rader, left, shakes the hands of his grandson John Rader Jr. as John Rader Sr. looks on at the Greenwood Lake Fire Department Annual awards dinner at the GWL American Legion. Jack Rader was 21 when he joined the department; 55 years later he still serves the department as treasurer. His son John started at the age of 18 and has been there for 23 years; he has just retired as chief. John Jr. started at the age of 16 as a trainee and made lieutenant this past year. “When I took my son John to the firehouse when he was two and saw the big red fire trucks, he was hooked,” Jack Rader said.

Photo by Ed Bailey