{"id":27385,"date":"2025-01-10T10:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=27385"},"modified":"2025-02-17T16:35:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T21:35:51","slug":"39-jimmy-carter-he-did-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=27385","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Carter: He Did It!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Linda Lou Burton posting from Little Rock, Arkansas January 10, 2025<\/em> \u2013 In my post of July 23, 2024, I stated that Jimmy Carter was \u201cthe best-loved \u2018after-president\u2019 we\u2019ve ever had.\u201d And the proof of that continues. Everybody was pulling for Jimmy to reach his 100th<\/sup> birthday on October 1. And he did it! Although Jimmy had been in home hospice care since February of last year, birthday greetings came from every direction, with a star-studded bash in Atlanta and a parade in Plains in his honor.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>But Jimmy had an even bigger goal than going down in history as the only president to reach 100. He wanted to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for President in the November 5, 2024 election. And he did it! He sent his early ballot on October 16, with the guarantee that his vote would count even if he died before November 5.<\/p>\n

Jimmy died December 29.<\/p>\n

It was fitting, I think, that Kamala presented the eulogy at the service held in the Capitol Rotunda on January 8, 2025. Here are a few of her words:<\/p>\n

We have heard much today and in recent days about President Carter’s impact in the four decades after he left the White House. Rightly so. Jimmy Carter established a new model for what it means to be a former president and leaves an extraordinary post-presidential legacy, from founding the Carter Center, which has helped advance global human rights and alleviate human suffering, to his public health work in Latin America and Africa, to his tireless advocacy for peace and democracy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Throughout his life and career, Jimmy Carter retained a fundamental decency and humility. James Earl Carter Jr loved our country. He lived his faith, he served the people, and he left the world better than he found it. And in the end, Jimmy Carter’s works speak for him, louder than any tribute we can offer. May his life be a lesson for the ages and a beacon for the future.<\/em><\/p>\n

January 9, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another packed service was held at the National Cathedral in DC at 10 AM on January 9. President Joe Biden delivered the eulogy there; former presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump were on row two; former vice presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence behind them. Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Melania Trump were there too; somber dark suits on a day to leave political differences behind for a bit.<\/p>\n

Burial took place in Plains, Georgia in the late afternoon. Yes, he is buried beside Rosalynn, by a willow tree in the yard of the only home they ever owned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Just as the motorcade arrived at the residence, the US Navy conducted a \u201cMissing Man Formation\u201d flyover, which means a single aircraft breaks away from the formation and soars skyward, symbolizing the departure of a life from the ranks.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, Naval Aviators from Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic were honored to salute President Carter with a 21-plane flyover over his home in Plains, Georgia,\u201d said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. \u201cOn behalf of the men and women of Naval Air Forces, we are grateful to commemorate the legacy of a leader who lived his life in service to our nation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

And He Did It!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Wrapping it up, I chose a photo of Jimmy exiting a polling site in October 2005 in Monrovia, Liberia. Jimmy was 81 at the time, and he was out there monitoring an election. It\u2019s just one of those things he did! He and Rosalyn founded the Carter Center in 1982; monitoring elections around the world to promote fair and free voting was just one thing on their agenda.<\/p>\n

Read more about the Carter\u2019s work; visit these sites.\u00a0The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum was opened in 1986. The following year, buildings connected to Carter’s life were granted status as National Historic Sites and in 2021 were collectively renamed the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Carter Library https:\/\/www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Carter National Historic Site https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/jica\/index.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

I picked out a few more of his \u201cawards and honors\u201d too:<\/p>\n