HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Several veterans went skydiving Thursday in Homestead, including a 91-year-old World War II veteran.
Thursday was Perry Cormen's third time jumping out of a plane. However, this time, he did it at 91 years young and with the Army's elite Golden Knights.
"Keep your mind active and keep your body moving, too," Cormen advised.
Cormen was a World War II bomber pilot and got the chance to relive his time in the air on Thursday.
"I want to prove to myself that at my age, you can do almost anything," he said.
Cormen's skydive with the Golden Knights was part of an effort to help spread awareness about the U.S. military.
"Today is the opportunity to take these men and ladies and really just spread the word about what the Army can do for us and what we can do for you," Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Stoneburg said.
Under a new authorization act signed by President Barack Obama in December, members of the military have to recruit more than ever before.
"We have to increase our recruiting mission this year by 6,000," Stoneburg said. "It is the largest single in year increase in recruiting history."
"X-men: Apocalypse" actress Alexandra Shipp was also on hand to help the veterans spread the work to younger generations.
"I get scared on, like, Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds and stuff like that, but when I got approached, they were like, 'This is a really great cause. We really want to bring awareness to joining the Army,'" Shipp said.
Now that he's back on the ground safe and sound, Perry has set a new goal: He wants to make this a tradition and complete a tandem jump on his birthday every year.