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At Age 85, a Happy Landing for President Bush

June 17, 2009 - KENNEBUNKPORT -- President George H.W. Bush celebrated his 85th birthday today by parachuting from an altitude of 10,500 feet into the churchyard of St. Ann's Episcopal Chapel in Kennebunkport. He landed at 1:44 p.m. and was greeted by his wife Barbara Bush.

The plane, a C-31 Fokker, had to make several passes before finding an opening in the clouds where Bush could make the jump.

As Bush landed at the church about 150 people waiting there burst into applause, and the crowd began chanting "Gampy Gammy," the Bush family name for grandfather.

Just offshore from the seaside church, onlookers in pleasure boats erupted into a version of the "Happy Birthday" song.

"It's a great day in the air," Bush said. "It's an exhilarating feeling. I don't feel a day over 84."

In the morning before leaving for the airport, Bush recalled that his wife Barbara had jokingly told him, "It's a very good thing you're doing it at a church. We don't have far to move you" in case of a mishap.

"I'm exhilarated, charged up, excited," said Bush, who intended his jump as a message to other elderly people to embrace life.

"Get out and do something," he said. "Get out and enjoy life."

George W. Bush, flanking the elder Bush with his brother Jeb, added, "I think it's awesome that an 85-year-old man can jump out of an airplane on his birthday."

The elder Bush recalled that his first jump out of an airplane, at age 20, was far more frightening -- his parachute got hung up for a moment on part of the crashing combat plane he had been piloting.

For today's jump, Bush said, "I'm glad to be alive and my family is all with me here."

By TOM BELL, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, June 12, 2009


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