Watch: Obama's warm welcome for veterans ahead of Veterans Day goes viral

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 12, 2025 03:49 IST

Former President Barack Obama made an unexpected stop at Washington’s Reagan Airport to greet a flight of Korean and Vietnam War veterans arriving from Wisconsin, surprising them with handshakes and thanks ahead of Veterans Day.

“Hello, everybody,” Obama said, prompting one startled veteran to shout back, “What?”

Obama shook hands with each of the 87 veterans as they disembarked, handing out his commemorative presidential coins, a token of appreciation he has reserved for moments of deep personal significance.

“As we approach Veterans Day, I just wanted to stop by and just say thank you for your extraordinary service,” Obama told the group. “To you, your family, the sacrifices that all of you made to protect our country is something that will always be honored and we are very grateful.”

He smiled and added, “And we also happened to welcome you with a 70-degree day in D.C., which doesn’t always happen around here.”

In a post on social media, Obama later reflected, “Ahead of Veterans Day, I was honored to welcome a flight of veterans and their families as they arrived in D.C. To all those who bravely served our country, thank you to you and your family for your extraordinary service. The sacrifices that all of you have made to protect our country will be honored, today and every day.”

The Honor Flight Network, which organized the trip, is a national nonprofit that provides free flights for veterans to visit memorials built in their honor. The programme, which began nearly two decades ago, has helped more than 317,000 veterans make the journey.

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