The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross held its Annual Heroes Breakfast at the Grove at Williamson Place on Wednesday morning (3/8/2017). Former State Representative John D. Hood was the honoree, and Dave Sanderson, one of the to leave US Airways flight 1549, "The Miracle On The Hudson", was the keynote speaker.

Red Cross Philanthropy Chair Janet Patterson announced that $110-thousand was raised at the breakfast.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

A mix of humor and heartwarming stories kept the audience enthralled as Dave Sanderson relived that chilling morning of January 15, 2009 when a flock of birds took out both engines of US Airways flight 1549.

He said the plane slammed into the water at 125 miles per hour, ripping much of the bottom section off. The frigid Hudson River gushed in and they were almost instantly knee deep.

Sanderson said words from his deceased mother filled his head, "Do the right thing, help others." In fact, this experience so changed his life that he now travels the world sharing his inspirational and motivational messages to help others make positive differences in their lives.

At the end, he held up a Red Cross blanket and said, "It was a blanket like this that someone gave me in an effort to help the hypothermia that was shutting my body down." He went on to share other stories of the Red Cross and received a standing ovation at the end.

HERO OF THE YEAR

John D. Hood is a product of Murfreesboro. Not only was he born here, but educated a Crichlow Elementary, Central High and MTSU with a bachelor's and master's degrees.

In fact, as John noted, "I've only been away from here for two-years, and that was to serve in the Army."

Hood is a compassionate leader in this community: past chair of the Chamber of Commerce, City School Board, past president of the Tennessee School Boards Association, former Rutherford County Quarterly Court member (now County Commission), treasurer with the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District, served as president of the Exchange Club as well as national president of that organization--and numerous other groups.

His career began at WGNS and later expanded into management with Samsonite, Middle Tennessee State University and Mid South Bank & Trust Company. After a dozen years as our state representative, John returned to MTSU where he is presently director of Government and Community Affairs.

SPECIAL THANK YOU

The Honor Guard from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office presented the Colors while Middle Tennessee Christian School President Matt Tiller led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and offered the invocation.

Heart of Tennessee Chair Denise Flanagan announced that during the past year, the local Red Cross responded to a tornado, helped 245 households affected by disaster, connected approximately 900 military members during times of family emergencies, taught around 5,500 persons life saving skills, and helped train approximately 12,000 local school students in preparedness education. In all, over 12,450 hours were logged by Heart of Tennessee Red Cross volunteers. In addition, approximately 8,000 donors gave life-saving whole blood or platelets at the Murfreesboro site and other mobile locations in 2016.

HEAR THE RED CROSS HEROES BREAKFAST

(Time: 48-minutes)