We are slowly losing a national treasure. 

Former president Jimmy Carter is 99 years old and is under permanent hospice care in his home in Plains, Georgia. His wife Rosalynn is also under hospice care.

Jimmy is a national treasure and continues to be an inspiration to the country.

The Iran hostage crisis began during his first year in office, 1977.

The hostages were released as soon as Reagan defeated Carter amid reports of the B-actor’s activities to take advantage of the crisis.

Carter was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Carter has said that his most memorable achievement is that not one missile or rifle was fired during his term of service.

His four years in office was just the start of a long life of service to humanity.

He might be best known for his “Habitat for Humanity” years when he helped build houses for other people.

But he was there for people throughout the world helping in many ways.

He has been known as a simple peanut farmer from  

Plains, but his life has been a complex example for good.

I met Carter on two occasions, both while he was governor of Georgia.

The first time I met Carter I was at a newspaper convention in Atlanta where he was the keynote speaker. When he finished his speech, he stepped down to the main floor, and I noticed that no one was talking with him. So, I went up and started to visit with him. He asked if my wife was going to come to the Governor’s Mansion tour the next day. When I answered yes, he invited me to come out and we would talk some more.

In our visit the next day, Carter said he was going to run for President. Carter at the time was president of the Governor’s Conference, which was being held in Seattle and he said I would get an invite.

The meeting took place and Jimmy and Rosalynn were at the door to welcome guests. I couldn’t believe he remembered our names.

Carter is truly a national treasure, giving his life for others, both here and around the world.

If I could pick politicians who became a national treasure it would be Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter.

He is in his final days and the country owes him recognition.