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It's touching when a child decides to follow their parents into a career out of a shared passion for what they do. Though children have to learn to forge their own path in the world, it's still moving to witness how much a parent's positive inspiration can help their children forge a path in life.
Julie Savage grew up watching her dad Michael work for United Airlines as an aircraft mechanic, and his inspiration led her into the aviation field, where she'd eventually become a captain for United Airlines herself. Michael's inspirational career finally came to an end when he retired on Father's Day weekend, but not before Julie gave him the ultimate send-off.
According to @abcworldnews , Julie and Michael Savage worked side-by-side at Chicago's O'Hare Airport for more than a decade, with Michael overseeing maintenance on the planes that his daughter flew. Michael would send Julie off with a kiss every morning, proudly talking up his pilot daughter to passengers every chance he got. They were a perfect dynamic duo, working side by side for United Airlines years, until the time came for one half of the duo to retire.
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After more than 40 decades of service, Michael Savage was ready to step out of the limelight and enjoy his much-deserved retirement- but not without one last hurrah. On Michael's very last day, Julie called her dad up to her gate for a surprise tear-jerking recognition of his life and career. She lovingly told her passengers how Michael had worked his way up from ramp worker to the operating manager for United's maintenance at O'Hare, and how he in turn supported Julie's aspirations of becoming an airline pilot.
"He's sacrificed a lot for me, loved me, supported me through all of my endeavors to become a pilot, and I'm here at United today because of him," said Julie. "And it's such an honor to recognize you, dad. I love you."
It was a beautiful torch-passing moment between father and daughter, and while Michael is finally leaving the aviation world behind, he's not anxious about his daughter's future in it.
"I'm certain that Julie will be able to continue our family legacy," Michael proudly told ABC World News .
Praise for the Savage Family
A story as beautiful as the Savages' isn't one that simply goes unnoticed. While United's broadcasting of Julie's Father's Day sendoff made national news, tons of people had positive experiences with one or both members of the proud father-daughter duo going back for many years, sharing their stories under United's Instagram post .
"Went through 737 training with Julie! She is the best!" praised @hunterstone22.
"I remember Mr. Savage from a tour of the ORD hangar during Airliners '22. Great guy!" reminisced @airspotterone.
"Hey, I know this duo!" recognized @anitrafly. "I went to flight school with Julie. She slayed all of her goals. So proud of her and best wishes to Mr. Savage on his retirement!"
People sing both Michael's and Julie's praises wherever they go, and though Michael may no longer be there at O'Hare every day to give Julie a kiss and brag about her to passengers, the character he helped instill in her informs her incredible work every day. As Michael himself said, his family legacy is in good hands, and what could be a better Father's Day gift than that?
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