There’s not much that First Lt. Vivian “Millie” Bailey hasn’t already accomplished in her 102 years on earth, but she did have one item left to cross off her bucket list.
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On October 18, all of that changed when Millie boarded an airplane owned by Skydive Baltimore… and jumped out!
Millie has always wanted to try skydiving, especially after watching former president George H. W. Bush celebrate his milestone birthdays at 75, 80, 85, and 90 with a “parachute jump.”
“[I] just always thought it would be a thrill,” she told WJZ. And she was absolutely right! She had such a good time in the air that, for a moment, she forgot she had an instructor strapped to her back!
“At one point when we were tumbling in the air, I felt like I was by myself,” she laughed. “I thought, ‘Where did the paratrooper go?'”
This latest accomplishment is a worthy reward for someone who has spent a lifetime serving others!
Millie joined the U.S. Women’s Army Auxiliary in 1942 and worked her way up to commander in charge. She received several awards during her military career, including the Women’s Army Corps Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and American Theater Medal.
After her honorable discharge as a first lieutenant in 1946, she went on to work for Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration before retiring in 1975. Even then, she never stopped giving, putting in 50 years of community service for food banks, schools, and veterans.
“I try every day to do something for someone else,” Millie said. “There are a lot of things that I can look back on. I thoroughly am happy and feel blessed that I’ve been able to do whatever I’ve been able to do.”
Now, she can add skydiving to her long list of incredible life experiences!
What a fabulous way to enjoy her 102nd year! We’re so grateful for people like Millie who never stop finding opportunities to give selflessly to the world around them. We hope this was the thrill of a lifetime for the American hero!
Share this story to remind everyone that we’re never too old to try something new.
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