Do you have the nerve to jump out of a helicopter today? How about when you're 90? In celebration of the big 9-0, President George H.W. Bush made his eighth parachute jump to prove that he's still got it. After skydiving for his 80th and 85th birthdays, he declared that he would of course be returning for his 90th.
Despite his inability to walk due to complications from Parkinson's, Bush tweeted his excitement this morning, proving that he was sticking to his word.
It's a wonderful day in Maine -- in fact, nice enough for a parachute jump.
— George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) June 12, 2014Granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager was there to cheer on her gramps at the site in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Jenna Bush Hager gives her grandfather a big hug before his 90th birthday jump! pic.twitter.com/7JwfgiPHRX
— karen trosset (@ktro21) June 12, 2014The former president's first jump occurred nearly 70 years ago when he was shot down over the Pacific Island of Chi Chi Jima on Sept. 2, 1944, while serving as a naval aviator in World War II. This time he made the 10,000 foot tandem jump with Mark Elliot and other retired members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights.
You can watch the raw, uncut video of this morning's events here.
Why does President Bush choose to celebrate his birthday by skydiving instead of a round of golf or dinner with the family? As he explained on his 85th birthday,
There are two reasons for doing it. One of them is that it feels good, it's exhilarating...You get charged up and excited... Second, it sends a message all around the globe that just because you're an old guy doesn't mean you have to sit around drooling in the corner. Get out and do something; get out and enjoy life."
"Pres George W Bush w his mother and daughter pre-jump," Jim McGrath tweets.
