The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Here’s how you can wish Jimmy Carter happy 97th birthday

- By Shaddi Abusaid shaddi.abusaid@ajc.com Staff writer Ernie Suggs contribute­d to this article.

Jimmy Carter’s birthday is still nearly two weeks away, but tributes and well wishes are already pouring in from across the globe.

The oldest living former president turns 97 on Oct. 1, and the Atlanta-based Carter Center on Friday asked fans to submit birthday wishes and photos to the Georgia native ahead of his big day.

By Saturday afternoon, Carter’s message board was already filled with hundreds of encouragin­g notes from the U.K. to East Asia and just about everywhere in between. Some shared photos of the former president while he was still on the campaign trail in the 1970s, while others posted pictures of themselves meeting the Carters over the years.

“Your life, your presidency and your outstandin­g accomplish­ments both in and out of office have influenced me to be a better and more humble person,” wrote one college student from Greece. “You are an amazing human being and a true Christian. I hope you have the most amazing birthday.”

A Georgia couple shared a photo of themselves standing with Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who celebrated her 94th birthday last month.

“97! An amazing milestone for an amazing human being,” wrote Connie and Kendall Blanchard. (Kendall Blanchard is the former president of Georgia Southweste­rn State University in Americus. He retired at the end of 2014.)

“We love you, Jimmy, and with each year our admiration for you and for all you have accomplish­ed only grows,” the couple wrote. “We hope to see you soon. Happy Birthday.”

On Friday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Carter, which he later tweeted about, to wish him a happy birthday.

“Today I called former President Jimmy Carter. As we mark 48 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, I thanked him for brokering Israel-Egypt peace, saving so many lives and ultimately paving the way for the Abraham Accords a year ago. Wished #39 a happy 97th birthday coming up soon!”

A spokespers­on for the Carter Center described the call as “a friendly and very pleasant phone call.”

To post a birthday note for the 39th U.S. president, visit online at cartercent­er.org/donate/97thbirthd­ay.html.

 ?? HYOSUB SHIN/AJC 2014 ?? Former President Jimmy Carter blows out the candles on his cake Oct. 1, 2014, during a dedication and birthday celebratio­n at the Day Chapel of the Ivan Allen III Pavilion at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
HYOSUB SHIN/AJC 2014 Former President Jimmy Carter blows out the candles on his cake Oct. 1, 2014, during a dedication and birthday celebratio­n at the Day Chapel of the Ivan Allen III Pavilion at the Carter Center in Atlanta.

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