It’s hard to fathom that eleven years have passed since Paul Walker’s untimely death. The beloved actor, best known for his role in the Fast and Furious series, tragically lost his life in a car accident in November 2013 when his Porsche Carrera GT collided with a pole and burst into flames.
Walker’s passing devastated fans worldwide and left a profound sense of grief for his family, including his fiancée, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, and his daughter, Meadow Rain Walker, whom he shared with Rebecca McBrain.
At the time of her father’s death, Meadow was just 15, an incredibly tough age to endure such a loss. While there’s never an ideal time to lose a parent, navigating that grief during the tumultuous teenage years must have been an especially heavy burden to carry. Despite the challenges, Meadow has shown remarkable resilience in the face of her father’s passing. Now 25, she is undoubtedly making her father proud.
From a young age, it was clear that Paul Walker was destined for a career in entertainment. Born in 1973, he began acting as a child in the ’70s and ’80s before gaining recognition for his role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. His career continued to flourish with performances in films like the 2001 thriller Joy Ride, but it was his iconic role as Brian O’Connor in the first Fast and Furious movie that truly catapulted him to fame.
Walker reprised this role several times as the franchise exploded in popularity, solidifying his status as a leading action star. His unexpected death at the age of 40 shocked fans and colleagues alike, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from co-stars like Vin Diesel and Tyrese Gibson. Meanwhile, Jasmine and Meadow had to grapple with the sudden loss of a partner and father.
While we can only imagine the pain felt by Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell and Meadow Rain Walker, it’s clear that Meadow has worked hard to honor her father’s memory.
In the years following his death, Meadow matured significantly. She completed high school and immediately dedicated herself to various projects, including the launch of the Paul Walker Foundation, using part of her inheritance to establish it.
The foundation aims to safeguard our oceans, wildlife, and ultimately ourselves. Its website describes it as “an enduring light of Paul’s unique spirit, far-reaching goals, and spontaneous goodwill”.
Reports indicate that Meadow, who is also pursuing her studies, continues to manage the foundation with the support of her godfather and Paul’s longtime friend, Vin Diesel. It truly warms my heart to see Meadow carrying forward her father’s legacy of kindness and compassion. I can only imagine how proud he would be of her efforts.
Does anyone else miss Paul Walker? The Fast and Furious films just don’t feel the same without him! Rest in peace, Paul, 1973-2013. Thank you for all the cherished memories.
Jimmy Carter has become the first U.S. president to turn 100 years old.
Former President Carter and wife Rosalynn are shown on a walk in their hometown of Plains, Georgia. (Matt McClain/Washington Post via Getty Images/File)
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter turned 100 years old on Tuesday, making him the first U.S. president to live for an entire century.
Carter, the 39th president, has been known for several “firsts.” He was the first U.S. president born in a hospital, the first Naval Academy graduate to become president, and the first president to visit Sub-Saharan Africa officially. Now, he holds the record as the first U.S. president to reach 100.
Carter is currently receiving home hospice care in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he has lived since his presidency ended in 1981. He has been in hospice care for nearly two years. Sadly, his wife, Rosalynn, passed away last year at the age of 96.
Jill Stuckey, a family friend of the Carters for over 30 years and the superintendent of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, said, “It’s funny, President Carter has done so much and usually succeeds at everything. But the one thing he hasn’t been great at is hospice.” She added, “He just keeps living, and we’re so happy about that. So if he’s not good at something, we’re glad it’s hospice.”
When asked what makes Carter different from other presidents who lived to an old age, Stuckey said it was his “tenacity” — his determination and will to keep going.
Jill Stuckey told Fox News Digital that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter always wanted to live as long as possible and stay healthy so they could help as many people as they could. She said they ate healthy meals, exercised every day, and worked hard to take care of themselves so they could keep helping others. “That’s what President Carter is showing today — that all those efforts really make a difference.”
The White House also put up a birthday message for Carter on the North Lawn to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Jill Stuckey said that celebrations for Carter’s 100th birthday started on Saturday in Plains, when the town held its annual peanut festival. “We celebrate peanut harvest season here in Plains, and it happens around the same time as President Carter’s birthday every year, so we usually celebrate them together,” she said.
Jill Stuckey also mentioned that on Tuesday, for Carter’s birthday, there will be more events in Plains, including a ceremony at Plains High School where 100 new citizens will take the oath. This is special because both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter went to that school.
After the ceremony, there will be a flyover to honor former President Carter, organized with help from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. Later in the afternoon, Plains will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new statues dedicated to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
In celebration of Carter’s birthday, volunteers in St. Paul, Minnesota, came together to build 30 new homes over five days. Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were among the participants.
“You’re one of the most influential statesmen in our history,” President Biden said in a video released ahead of Carter’s birthday on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, Grand Ole Opry member and country music legend Charlie McCoy played a special rendition of “Georgia On My Mind” to honor the former president.
Cathie Skoog, a former member of the White House Communications Agency, said, “I remember the first time I saw him, and I was in awe. That feeling has always stayed with me. You can meet presidents all the time, but the first time is always the most special.” She added, “He didn’t care what people thought. He just did what he believed was right for the country.”
During his time as president, Carter focused on protecting the environment, improving human rights, and making the American education system better. He made big changes, like updating the civil service system, opening up the airline industry to more competition, and creating the Energy and Education departments. He also helped make cars safer by requiring both seat belts and airbags.
Carter’s time as president also had its challenges. There was high inflation, an energy crisis, and failed efforts to free American hostages who were held in Iran. His Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance, eventually resigned because he disagreed with how the administration handled the hostage situation.
During the Iranian Revolution, oil prices in the U.S. went up sharply. In July 1979, President Carter gave a speech where he said Americans were losing confidence in the country because of rising inflation and the energy crisis.
He said, “The signs of this crisis of spirit are everywhere. For the first time, most Americans think the next five years will be worse than the last. Two-thirds of people don’t even vote. Workers are less productive, and Americans are saving less than people in other Western countries.”
Carter added, “We need to face the truth, and then we can change direction. We must believe in each other, believe we can govern ourselves, and have faith in the future. Restoring that faith is our most important job now.”
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