Plains, Georgia, is gearing up to celebrate a historic milestone as former US President Jimmy Carter turns 100 on Tuesday. Jimmy Carter, who will become the first US president to reach the centennial mark, has defied all expectations with his longevity, having entered hospice care over 19 months ago.
The small town of Plains, with a population of just 600, is preparing a grand tribute to honor its hometown hero. A military flyover featuring four Navy F-18s has been arranged, a nod to Jimmy Carter’s service in the Navy’s nuclear submarine program, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. Jimmy Carter, who has mostly stayed out of the public eye recently, will observe the flyover from his home, where he plans to spend his birthday with around 20 members of his extended family.
Jimmy Carter’s modest beginnings as a peanut farmer and his post-presidency return to Plains have made him a beloved figure in his community. Jill Stuckey, superintendent of the National Park Service’s Jimmy Carter Historical Site and a longtime family friend, expressed the town’s excitement about the celebration. “We are thrilled that the president from this little town is going to be the only president to ever live to be 100 years old,” she told AFP.
Plains High School, where Jimmy Carter graduated in 1941, will be at the center of the celebrations. The school, now a visitor’s center for the national park dedicated to Jimmy Carter’s life, will host an evening concert featuring local musicians and a naturalization ceremony for 100 new US citizens.
Tributes for the former president have already begun pouring in. President Joe Biden praised Jimmy Carter as “a moral force for our nation and the world” in a video message, lauding his commitment to human goodness and a better world. Jimmy Carter’s legacy extends beyond his single term as president (1977-1981), where he is remembered for brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, establishing diplomatic relations with China, and returning control of the Panama Canal to Panama.
Despite challenges during his administration, including the Iran hostage crisis, Jimmy Carter’s post-presidency work has solidified his reputation. His founding of the Jimmy Carter Center in 1982 has played a vital role in global diplomacy and human rights advocacy. Known for his moral integrity and civility, Jimmy Carter remains an admired figure across political divides, with his devotion to politics and his community enduring as he reaches this extraordinary milestone.
