JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Carl Bazarian never takes a sunrise for granted anymore.
"Every day I appreciate the sun coming up and just walking the beach and seeing it come up over the water," says Carl, who lives on Amelia Island.
Carl was one of three men from the Jacksonville area aboard the plane that went down into the icy Hudson River last January. This will be the first Thanksgiving since that miracle landing. All three men say they are more grateful for their loved ones this holiday season, then ever before.
"When we were going down, I just said, you know, I just want to see that sun, just one more time," Carl told Action News.
Carl believes he was given a second chance at life. Casey Jones and Donald Jones feel the same way.
"I give thanks for the fact that God gave me a second chance to see the sun, experience my wife, my family and my friends," says Casey.
He lives in St. Johns County with his wife and children.
Since the miracle plane landing, Casey says his "outlook is amazing."
For Donald Jones, priorities have changed.
"I'm basically a workaholic. But it has caused me to step back and take a look at my priorities, both from a work standpoint and from the time you spend with your family," says Jones, who lives in San Marco with his wife.
All three men remember that fateful plane ride very clearly.
"The take-off was normal," says Casey. "Everything was good and then the loud pop."
Carl remembers the next moment. "There was silence. There was no excelleration, no propoltion. Immediately, I knew we had had it."
They all said prayers. "The only thing I said to myself, was Lord, please let me survive this," says Donald.
All three men walked off the plane and onto the wing. They didn't know each other before that day. They were strangers. Now, they feel bonded forever by this experience.
"Since this happened, when I wake up every morning, I absolutely know it's going to be a great day," says Casey. "No matter what happens - are there going to be challenges? Sure. Are there going to be things that I have to face that aren't going to be comfortable or pleasant? Yes. But you know what? It's a great day."
