Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger returned to a hero's welcome in his native Denison, Texas on June 6 and it didn't take long to see this man was a cool and collected standing at the microphone as he was sitting in the left seat of US Airways Flight 1549 on that fateful day in January.
As Captain Sullenberger faced a crowd numbering in the hundreds, with Texas Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall, State Representative Larry Phillips and Denison Mayor Robert Brady behind him on the podium, Sullenberger casually remarked, "You guys do this every Saturday?"
America expects her heroes to be humble yet witty, modest but capable of extraordinary action. And the man of the hour certainly fit the bill. Denison’s hometown hero was also his country’s hero at a time in history when she needed one to step forward.
As he recalled the nation's reaction to Captain Sullenberger's successful landing of an Airbus 320 in the Hudson River, Congressman Hall, said, "We needed a boost about that time. America needed a hero."
On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 had just lifted off LaGuardia Airport in New York when Sullenberger notified air traffic controllers that the aircraft had struck a flock of birds and both engines had shut down. Quickly realizing his first two options, a hard turn back to LaGuardia or an attempt to reach nearby Teterboro Airport would not be possible, Sullenberger decided to land the 150,000-pound airliner in the Hudson River. The Airbus softly touched down and then Sullenberger made two trips up and down the aisle to be certain every passenger and all the crew had safely gotten out of the aircraft before making his exit.
"It is good to be home," Sullenberger told the crowd gathered on the west side of Denison's Katy Depot. "I'm so happy to see Denison has retained the values and small-town charm I remember."
He gave credit to the entire crew of US Airways Flight 1549 for an historic landing that spared the lives of 155 passengers and Sullenberger was also quick to point out the fast arrival of the first responders as people stood on the wings of the Airbus as it floated in the Hudson River.
Governor Perry and Captain Sullenberger were both Air Force pilots in the 1970s and Perry called the military "a breeding ground for heroes."
"You showed people how to do things Texas-style!" Gov. Perry remarked as the crowd applauded. "Today we salute you and honor our veterans. Although we were only captains in the Air Force, today I'm proclaiming you an admiral in the Texas Navy."
Sullenberger graciously accepted several mementos, including a flag that had flown over the Alamo.
Denison Mayor Robert Brady and Sullenberger both graduated from Denison High School in 1969. The mayor reflected on memories of his classmate.
"Heroism was absolutely consistent with the character of the young man we knew so well in Denison years ago," stated Mayor Bradley. "He didn't seek the spotlight. The Denison High School class of 1969 all knows God put the right man at the controls of US Airways Flight 1549 on that fateful day."
"I have one question to the class of '69," responded now-Admiral Sullenberger, tongue-in-cheek. "How come you weren't this nice to me back in high school?"
