1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, Welcome to Story Behind podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: Pilot's final flight was canceled, then a rival airline gave 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 2: him the goodbye he deserved. Written by Heather Rigamann, read 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: by Jolly Provost. A pilot's final flight was canceled, then 9 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 2: a rival airline gave him the goodbye he deserved. Sometimes 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 2: the world feels so divided that we forget that we 11 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 2: are still generally good people out there. People are willing 12 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: to set aside competition and differences simply to honor another 13 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: human being. And honestly, this story about Spare Airlines pilot 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: John Jackson retiring feels like the reminder we all need it. 15 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: Captain John Jackson was supposed to make one final flight 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: into Baltimore on May second before retiring after years in 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: the sky, but instead, Spare Airlines abruptly ceased operations that 18 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: same day after thirty three years of business, and just 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: like that, the final flight of his career was canceled 20 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: along with his flight home. What a brutal and abrupt 21 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: ending after decades of carrying passengers safely through turbulence, storms, delays, 22 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: and long days. There would be no final landing or 23 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: farewell over the intercom. But then something unexpected happened. John 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: boarded a Southwest Airlines flight from Port Laderdale to Baltimore, 25 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 2: where his son Chris, also a Southwest pilot, shared his 26 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: father's story with the crew. Southwest decided they weren't going 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: to let a fellow pilot quietly fade into retirement without 28 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: honoring him properly. When the plane landed, Baltimore Airport, Buy 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 2: and Rescue greeted John with a traditional water cannon salute 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: as the aircraft taxied beneath giant streams of water. It's 31 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: one of aviation's highest honors, and honestly, it felt like 32 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 2: the perfect sendoff to a man whose final flight plans 33 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: had suddenly crashed. It was so incredible to wash it unfold. 34 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: Then things became even more emotional as Jean walked through 35 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: the airport staff and the passengers applauded while someone in 36 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: anounced over the loudspeaker. Ladies and gentlemen, mister John Jackson. 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: The vibral Facebook video, which now has reached more than 38 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: fourteen million views, shows John physically overwhelmed by the surprise celebration. 39 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: This is overwhelming. I can't thank you enough, John said, 40 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: as spirit goes down. This is a sad day and 41 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: you guys made it incredible, So thank you so much. 42 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: Southwest later shared it was a powerful reminder of the 43 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: aviation community's ability to show respect, compassion, and solidarity when 44 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 2: it matters most. Above all, this moment was about honoring 45 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: a fellow aviator, and honestly, that's exactly why people can't 46 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: stop watching this story. Because even rivals choose kindness over 47 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: competition in a world for turbulence, they help someone land softly. Therefore, 48 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 2: encourage one another and build each other up. First, Lesslonians 49 00:02:44,960 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: five eleven Triplets to You're and eighty six years old 50 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: and have so much to share. God has been very, 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: very good to us. Written by MICHAELA. Godoni read by 52 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: Jully Propost. The first ever recorded triplets in Fourthins County, 53 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: North Carolina, will celebrate more than eight and a half 54 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 2: decades together on June sixth. The nearly eighty six year 55 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: old Cockraham triplets have spent their whole lives together. It's 56 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: so special that they've gotten to spend so many years 57 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: together and have such a close bond. The trio was 58 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: born in nineteen forty. Their eighteen year old mother had 59 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 2: thought she was pregnant with one large baby, but she 60 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: had three small ones who weighed fourteen pounds altogether. They 61 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: heard multiple heartbeats, said the eldest triplet, Janis. They delivered 62 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: me first, then went back for the others. Janet was 63 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: born next. The doctor had left because I felt that 64 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: delivery was over, but a nurse called the doctor back 65 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: when she realized Jim was also on his way. They 66 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: all recalled having a happy childhood together. Their mother raised 67 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: them with help from grandparents and friends. Janis credited their 68 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: mom as the strongest person she ever met. It was 69 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: fun growing up, Jana said. It's been a great life, 70 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: it really has. God has been very good to us. 71 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: Over the years, they've been known as local celebrities the 72 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: Cockerham Triplets. Newspapers would sometimes report their birthdays each year. 73 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: All three of us stayed together. Jim said, we always 74 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: had a playmate. We were always close. We always watched 75 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: out for each other. Janis and Janet now live together. 76 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: Then Jim always calls every evening to check on them. 77 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 2: It's a huge blessing to the triplets that they have 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: had each other as lifelong friends. It's just wonderful that 79 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 2: they've gotten to have such a long life together. Load 80 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit 81 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: of the womb is his reward, Psalm one hundred and 82 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: twenty seven to three. 83 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 84 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 85 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 86 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 87 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 88 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 89 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 90 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: a review. 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