"Pilot," A Simple Song about a Hero

For more than 26 years I have listened almost every week to Garrison Keillor’s “News from Lake Wobegon.” I discovered Keillor’s radio program while driving back home to Columbia, SC after Fleda, our son John Marc, and I (before Lydia was born) had been visiting family in Easley. This amazing storyteller hosts “A Prairie Home Companion” every Saturday from 6 to 8 pm on National Public Radio (90.7FM in our area). He is a national treasure. As a service to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I have transcribed the words of a song Garrison Keillor recently sang to his radio audience about “the little piece of amazing heroism you’ve been hearing about over and over again on the TV.” You won't see this anywhere else.

His name was Chesley B. Sullenberger III, Which for a pilot is somewhat absurd. A pilots name should be Buzz, Bill, or Chuck, But a name like Chesley may mean good luck. He was flying an airbus out of New York, when at 3000 feet, the engine lost torque. His voice was calm as he sent out the word: Chesley B. Sullenberger The Third. No time to maneuver or head for New Jersey. The force of gravity shows us no mercy. There was the river stretching for miles, so he said to his copilot, Jeffery Skiles, “We’ll put it down here. Don’t look at those maps. Bring landing gear up and extend the flaps.” And the flight attendants prepared themselves: Donna Dent, Sheila Dale, and Doreen Wells. The city spread out below their feet, and he landed at the foot of 48th Street. On the Hudson River he landed that bird, Chesley B. Sullenberger the Third. The plane did not sink. It lay on the river, and all aboard were safely delivered. It could have been tragic, but no deaths occurred Thanks to Chesley B. Sulleberger the Third. The next time you fly look in the cockpit where the captain and first officer sit, Ready to take you up and onward Like Chesley B. Sullenberger the Third. Take you across the country for miles with officers like Jeffery Skiles And attendants who, in a crisis won’t fail: Donna Dent, Doreen Wells, and Sheila Dale.