Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas participated in a skydiving jump with 106-year-old World War II veteran Al Blaschke to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans. The jump took place at Skydive Spaceland San Marcos, where the Governor and Mr. Blaschke were flown in a de Havilland DHC-6-200-Twin Otter aircraft and jumped from 8,500 feet. This marked Governor Abbott's first skydiving experience.

In a press release, Governor Abbott expressed his gratitude towards the brave men and women who have served the nation, saying, "Texans and Americans owe so much to the brave men and women who serve our nation and protect the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day. I am proud to share my first skydiving jump with Al Blaschke to honor veterans, like him, who helped safeguard the freedoms and promise of our country for generations of Americans."

The Governor and Mr. Blaschke were joined by Texas National Guard soldiers, veteran advocate and Georgetown community leader Betty Schleder, and professionals from Skydive Spaceland.

Al Blaschke, a World War II aircraft engineer from Georgetown, has a history of skydiving adventures. He first made headlines in 2017 when he skydived for the first time on his 100th birthday. In 2020, Mr. Blaschke broke the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest tandem parachute jump alongside his twin grandsons and longtime friend, Betty Schleder. During the recent skydiving jump with Governor Abbott, Mr. Blaschke once again set the world record as the oldest tandem skydiver.

Betty Schleder, in addition to being a skydiving enthusiast, is a small business owner in Texas and a former finalist on the television shows "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race."

The Governor's skydiving jump was captured on footage, which can be downloaded here. Skydive Spaceland San Marcos is a popular skydiving destination in Texas.

The event highlights the ongoing efforts to honor and remember the contributions of military veterans. Governor Abbott's participation in the skydiving jump with Mr. Blaschke serves as a symbol of gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made by veterans in safeguarding the freedoms of the country.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-skydives-with-106-year-old-wwii-veteran