Former President Obama Surprises Veterans on Honor Flight

WASHINGTON — Over the weekend, former President Barack Obama surprised a group of veterans traveling from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., to honor their military service.

President Obama, who is 64, boarded the plane carrying veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He expressed gratitude for their sacrifices, shaking hands with the visibly astonished veterans, as captured in a video he shared on social media for Veterans Day.

“Hello, everyone,” Obama greeted the veterans. “With Veterans Day approaching, we wanted to stop by and thank you for your extraordinary service.”

Many of the veterans reacted with gasps and exclamations of disbelief as the former president recognized them at Reagan National Airport, located just outside Washington, D.C.

Following his remarks, Obama met with the veterans personally, even giving each one a presidential challenge coin.

In a post on social media, he mentioned how honored he felt to thank the veterans of Korea and Vietnam as they arrived in the city for the occasion.

Since former President Bill Clinton’s administration, U.S. presidents have created their own challenge coins as a way to honor contributions to the nation.

The Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization that arranges free trips for veterans to visit memorials in D.C., coordinated Obama’s visit.

With over 100 locations across the U.S., Honor Flight has transported around 300,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., since its inception, with a final flight scheduled for 2025.

One veteran mentioned to Obama that the last time he met a president was during Gerald Ford’s time.

After receiving such a surprise from Obama, the veterans were cheered as they made their way through the airport.

They were eventually taken to the National Mall to see the monument built in their honor.

Army veteran Joe Parr shared his emotional response to the trip, saying, “There were tears in my eyes. I just couldn’t believe there were so many people who remembered us and greeted us. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Retired Navy veteran Col. Mary Quigley, who volunteers with Honor Flight, highlighted the importance of treating veterans with dignity, contrasting it with the lack of a warm welcome for many who returned from Vietnam.

Navy veteran Nels Swenson expressed his happiness for the current troops, noting how they have received a much warmer reception compared to the past. “This flight is recreating that. It makes you feel good,” he added.