Retired Airline Pilot
UAL Captain Rick Barrios Retired
In skies of silver and boundless blue,
A captain once soared, his dreams came true.
With steady hands and a heart held high,
An airline pilot, navigating the sky.
From early dawn till twilight's gleam,
He guided planes through the jet stream.
With every takeoff and graceful landing,
A symphony of flight, forever commanding.
Through clouds and storms, he found his way,
Embracing challenges day after day.
A guardian of passengers' hopes and fears,
A steadfast presence amidst the shifting gears.
Above the earth, he found his peace,
A serenity that would never cease.
For amidst the chaos of a bustling world,
He became one with the heavens unfurled.
But time, it flows, as all things must,
And retirement arrived, as fate discussed.
The cockpit's door closed with a bittersweet sigh,
As he bid farewell to the limitless sky.
Yet memories linger, like wisps of clouds,
Of journeys taken, of stories allowed.
Of friendships forged and shared camaraderie,
In the world above, where he felt truly free.
Now grounded on Earth's solid ground,
He savors the tranquility that he's found.
A life enriched by the travels of old,
A pilot's story waiting to be retold.
In reminiscence, he smiles and reflects,
On a career lived, with no regrets.
For he touched the heavens, his spirit alight,
A retired airline pilot, a beacon in flight.
Retired United Pilots Association