Red Cross of Greater Chattanooga Area

Brace For Impact!
Find out how these 3 words can be a life changing event.

The Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross is proud to announce their keynote speakers for the fifth annual Red Cross Hometown Heroes Luncheon. Jeff Skiles, co-pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, and Dave Sanderson, passenger on Flight 1549, will recall their personal accounts of the event best known as, "Miracle on the Hudson". For the first time ever on the same stage, these heroes will share how their quick thinking and courage helped save the lives of others.

Jeff Skiles never imagined when he set out on that cold clear morning in January that he would be faced with one of the biggest challenges of his life, both personally and professionally. As a 22 year veteran pilot for US Airways, Skiles was familiar with the phrase "brace for impact", but those words would never sound more ominous than they did on that day. Just moments after takeoff, the plane's engines were struck by a flock of Canadian Geese, forcing Captain Sully Sullenberger and Co-pilot Skiles to make the difficult decision to ditch the plane in the Hudson River. It was a dangerous risk, but they knew it was the only way to save the lives of all 155 passengers on board.

captin_jeff

Captain Jeff Skiles

Jeff Skiles

Dave Sanderson

Dave Sanderson was among the passengers, but his reaction to those terrifying words, "brace for impact", was anything but ordinary. When the plane crashed into the Hudson River, Dave remained calm and helped guide his fellow passengers to safety. Amidst the chaos, he waited until everyone else had made it off the plane safely before he too evacuated. He was an everyday person reacting heroically in an extraordinary situation.
"We are thrilled to have two authentic heroes together on the same stage," said Barbara Alexander, Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross CEO. "The Miracle on the Hudson is an incredible story, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to hear what it has meant to each of our speakers."

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We wish to thank the following for their support! These organizations are making a difference by helping the Red Cross help others when they need it the most.

2012 Gold Level Sponsors

gold sponsors

2012 Silver Level Sponsors

2012 Red Level Sponsors

Astec Industries
Blood Assurance
Coca Cola Bottling Company
Husch Blackwell
Miller + Martin PLLC
NovaCopy
Pomerance Eye Center
Regions Bank
Republic Parking
Southern Champion Tray
Morgan Stanley (Ed Warwick)