DENISON, Texas -- Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger returned to his hometown of Denison today to a hero's welcome.

Dozens of people gathered inside the Katy Depot for a VIP reception honoring the US Airways pilot, who was cheered as he walked into the room with his wife.

Sullenberger became a national hero in January when he landed a crippled jet plane in the Hudson River, saving 155 passengers. He will speak tonight at the commencement ceremony for his alma mater, Denison High School.

There is also a rally and parade in his honor.

Sherry Christie, a spokesperson for the Denison school district, said the graduation invitation went out to Sullenberger within weeks of his spectacular landing on Jan. 15.

"David Bryant, who will be our master of ceremonies at the heroes event, graduated with Capt. Sullenberger and they've been friends forever and stayed in touch over the years," Christie said.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger

"They decided the commencement address was something he could do, and once he accepted, people came together and asked if he could do a public reception, too."

But when organizers mentioned putting up billboards announcing Sullenberger's return to Denison, he balked.

"He said, ‘You can't put me on a billboard. That's too much. Our nation is full of heroes, a lot of them from Denison. I want them all to be honored," Christie said.

Appropriately, today marks the anniversary of D-Day, when another Denison boy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as supreme commander of Allied forces in the invasion of Europe.

Dignitaries including Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall, will gather at the park at the Katy Depot at 2 p.m. for the event, with Sullenberger speaking at 2:50 p.m.

He'll then take the stage at Munson Field during graduation ceremonies that begin at 8:30 p.m., Christie said.

"The students are very excited – they're beside themselves," she said, "and the same with all the school personnel.

"And I cannot tell you how excited I am to hear what he has to say these students."