90-year-old ex-US President George HW Bush to make parachute jump
The announcement to make parachute jump was kept secret until the last minute
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-06-12 21:19 GMT
Kennebunkport: Former US President George HW Bush can no longer use his legs, but he is not letting that stop him from keeping a vow he made five years ago: to jump from an aircraft on his 90th birthday, which is today.
"It is a wonderful day in Maine - in fact, nice enough for a parachute jump," the nation's 41st president announced on Twitter.
Bush intends to jump from a helicopter with a retired member of the Army's parachute team near his summer home on the Maine coast, spokesman Jim McGrath said.
The announcement was kept secret until the last minute, partly to give Bush himself the option of changing his mind.
McGrath said Bush likes both a surprise and an adrenaline rush.
"It is vintage George Bush," he said. "It is that passion for life. It is wanting to set a goal, wanting to achieve it. I am sure part of it is sending a message to others that even in your retirement years you can still find challenges."
The first time Bush jumped from an airplane was when his plane was shot down in World War II over the Pacific. Later, he decided to jump from a plane of his own accord and marked his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays by skydiving.
He said on his 85th birthday that he'd like to do it again on his 90th.
Today's jump would be his eight.
During his presidential years, Bush was known for jogging, tennis and fast-paced golf but now uses a wheelchair because of a form of parkinsonism.
Other birthday festivities included a private dinner with more than 200 relatives and friends. His children, including former President George W Bush and former Florida Gov Jeb Bush, will be there, McGrath said.