Barack Obama “Thank You for Your Extraordinary Service”
Former President Barack Obama gave a group of Honor Flight veterans the surprise of a lifetime over the weekend when he boarded their flight from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., to personally thank them for their military service.
A video posted on Obama’s social-media accounts for Veterans Day shows the 64-year-old former president greeting the astonished passengers.
“Hello, everybody,” Obama began. “As we approach Veterans Day, I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for your extraordinary service.”
Gasps and laughter filled the cabin — one veteran even exclaimed, “What?” — as Obama shook hands and posed for photos with the stunned group after the plane arrived at Reagan National Airport, just outside the nation’s capital.
Obama Shares Gratitude on Social Media
Following the visit, Obama wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“I was grateful to be able to greet veterans who served in Korea and Vietnam as they arrived in D.C. this weekend, and give them a personal token of my gratitude.”
That token was one of Obama’s own challenge coins, a presidential tradition dating back to Bill Clinton, through which U.S. presidents design personalized coins to recognize contributions to the country.
Honor Flight: Flying Heroes to the Nation’s Memorials
The trip was organized by Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit volunteer group that provides free trips for veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C.
Operating through more than 100 hubs nationwide, the organization has flown about 300,000 veterans to the capital since its founding. According to its website, the final scheduled Honor Flight of 2025 will arrive at Reagan National Airport on December 6 from Austin, Texas.
Veterans Reflect on the Unforgettable Encounter
One veteran told Obama,
“The last time I got to see a president, it was Gerald Ford.”
After the surprise welcome, the veterans were greeted with cheers and applause throughout the airport before heading to the National Mall to visit the memorials built in their honor.
Army veteran Joe Parr shared how moved he felt:
“I had tears in my eyes. I just couldn’t believe that there were that many people around who remembered us and were there to greet us. It was just unbelievable.”
Retired Navy captain and Honor Flight volunteer Mary Quigley added,
“We just try to treat them with the dignity that some of them didn’t get when they came home from the war.”
A Heartfelt Veterans Day Gesture
Obama’s unexpected visit, posted widely on social media, has been praised as a powerful symbol of gratitude toward America’s aging veterans. The touching encounter highlighted both the sacrifice of those who served and the enduring spirit of appreciation that Veterans Day represents.
source: nypost
photo: social media
