The touching tale of a father and son who were able to recreate a wonderful event in order to celebrate an even more precious one comes from a Chicago airport.

On his father’s last flight before retiring, newly minted Southwest Airlines pilot Ruben Flowers III got to fly shotgun.

To commemorate the occasion, they snapped a photo in the same spot as one taken nearly 30 years previously.

In 1994, Ruben Flowers Jr.’s son, Flowers III, had the opportunity to speak with the pilot as he prepared

for takeoff. The two of them took a lovely picture while seated in the co-pilot’s seat.

Flowers Jr. worked as a pilot for Southwest for 30 years, inspiring his three children to follow in his footsteps. According to Flowers III, flying has the ‘best office view in the world.’

When Flowers III was finishing flight school and his father was nearing the end of his career, he accidentally came upon an old family photo and was inspired to do something special for him.

Making this happen was a dream of mine, says Flowers III. ‘Flying with my dad was my main goal in life.’

He wasn’t sure if he would finish flying school prior to his father’s retirement on March 3. But luck was on his side, and on March 3rd,

while traveling from Omaha to Chicago, Flowers II and III sat side by side as co-pilot and father, taking the final photograph of his father’s lengthy career.

Flowers Jr. told People, ‘I truly enjoyed traveling with my son. ‘I found it to be a true blessing. It was simply amazing.

Flowers III continued traveling after they arrived in Chicago while his father attended a retirement

celebration at the airport to honor a magnificent career and a beautiful legacy that would continue to fly after him.