A Wave Worth Noticing: Aurora Missouri’s Everyday Ambassador of Kindness

If you drive down the 900 block of South Jefferson Street in Aurora, Missouri, you might spot something that makes you smile before you even know why. Sitting in a blue metal chair near the edge of his yard, Darrell Hastings lifts his hand in a wave — not just to friends or familiar faces, but to everyone who passes by. Rain or shine, morning or afternoon, his quiet ritual has become one of Aurora’s most consistent and heartwarming sights.

Each school day, Darrell is out front when the buses roll by. The children inside know to look for him — the man who waves. In the afternoons, when those same buses return, there he is again, smiling and waving, bookending the day with a simple act of kindness. To the commuters and delivery drivers who pass by, his presence is a familiar comfort, a small reminder that friendliness still lives on the sidewalks and front yards of small-town Missouri.

But Darrell’s neighborliness goes far beyond his daily wave. A retired Air Force veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, he spent more than two decades as a youth minister alongside his late wife, shaping lives through faith and mentorship. Even in retirement, he hasn’t slowed down. He supports more than 20 nonprofit organizations, serves faithfully with the Gideons, and remains an active member of his church. Around town, you might see him mowing a neighbor’s lawn or picking up trash — not because someone asked, but because he noticed it needed doing.

Darrell doesn’t seek thanks or recognition. In fact, he’d rather you didn’t make a fuss. “I just feel blessed to be alive,” he often says, “and I want to do what I can to help others.” That sense of humble gratitude seems to drive everything he does — and it’s contagious.

In a time when so many people rush through their days without looking up from their phones or acknowledging the world around them, Darrell Hastings offers a gentle correction. His wave says, I see you. You matter. His daily presence is a ministry of consistency — a living reminder that connection doesn’t require big speeches, expensive projects, or complicated plans. Sometimes it starts with something as small as lifting your hand and sharing a smile.

Aurora’s “waver” may never run for office or chair a city committee, but his influence is quietly civic all the same. He’s building belonging one gesture at a time. Those who know him can tell you: the wave matters. Kids on the bus look forward to it. Drivers find themselves waving back before they even think about it. For a few seconds, everyone is reminded that we’re part of a shared place — a neighborhood, not just a collection of houses.

Darrell Hastings doesn’t just live in Aurora; he helps make it feel like home. His blue chair, his steady wave, and his kind heart have become fixtures of the community — proof that you don’t have to move mountains to make a difference. You just have to be present, consistent, and willing to wave.

Footnote: Darrell was selected as the Grand Marshall of the Christmas parade in Aurora for 2025. He should be able to wave for the entire parade!

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.