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.)
The Carter Center
The Carter Center
“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.”
Those looking to post a birthday note for the 39th U.S. president can do so here.
Staff writer Ernie Suggs contributed to this article.
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