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Sock and circumstance: People help Bush Sr. colorfully mark 89th birthday

In honor of former president George H. W. Bush’s 89th birthday on Wednesday, many Americans performed their patriotic duty -- by digging deep into their sock drawers. People are showing off their polka dots and pastels in response to a call-out from the George Bush Presidential Library foundation, which asked folks to snap a picture of their favorite colorful socks and post them online in honor
Former President George H. W. Bush sports Superman socks, a birthday gift from a friend, on his 89th birthday.
Former President George H. W. Bush sports Superman socks, a birthday gift from a friend, on his 89th birthday.Today

In honor of former president George H. W. Bush’s 89th birthday on Wednesday, many Americans performed their patriotic duty -- by digging deep into their sock drawers.

People are showing off their polka dots and pastels in response to a call-out from the George Bush Presidential Library foundation, which asked folks to snap a picture of their favorite colorful socks and post them online in honor of the 41st president, a noted "sock man."

Bush, who is celebrating his birthday with family in Kennebunkport, Maine, opted Wednesday for a pair of Superman socks -- a birthday gift from a friend -- for the big 8-9.

He's become known for breaking out his colorful socks on many occasions, including the pink polka dot pair he sported at son George W. Bush's presidential library dedication in Dallas recently.

In an interview last year, Bush told his granddaughter, TODAY correspondent Jenna Bush Hager, that he "likes a good sock." On Wednesday morning, Hager celebrated the signature style of her beloved "Gampy" by tweeting out a photo of her infant daughter Mila's tiny feet over the top of a mismatched pair of Bush's loud socks.

Here is Hager's cute photo, along with the colorful responses of others online in honor of Bush's birthday. Birthday well-wishers can upload photos of their covered tootsies via Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #41s89th.