On Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day, the Honor Flight Network brought veterans from across the country to Washington, DC. When a flight of Korean and Vietnam War veterans arrived from Madison, Wisconsin, they were met with a special surprise: former President Barack Obama.
Obama boarded the plane at the gate, thanking the veterans and their families for their “extraordinary service” and sacrifices. The emotional moment was met with enthusiastic reactions from the group.
The Honor Flight Network, which has flown over 300,000 veterans to the capital in the past 20 years, provides free trips for veterans to visit Washington’s monuments and share their stories with fellow service members.
Obama later wrote on Medium that welcoming the veterans was an “honor.” He also shared that he presented them with Presidential Challenge Coins as a personal token of gratitude for their service.