Washington — Veterans Day 2025 will be memorable for many. On a warm 70-degree day, former President Barack Obama greeted a group of veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars as they arrived in Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight from Madison, Wisconsin.

As the veterans disembarked, Obama’s voice resonated over the loudspeaker. "Hello, everybody," he announced, prompting surprised reactions from the crowd. One veteran exclaimed, "What!" while another stood in disbelief with his mouth agape.

The Honor Flight Network, a national non-profit organization, arranged the trip for 79 veterans and their families. Obama personally welcomed them, shaking hands and presenting each veteran with a Presidential Challenge Coin, a gesture of gratitude for their service.

In a statement, Obama expressed his appreciation, saying, "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 made to protect our country will be honored, today and every day."

The Honor Flight Network, which began by focusing on World War II veterans, has expanded its mission to include veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as other conflicts. The program has been operational for 20 years and has facilitated flights for over 317,000 veterans.

Army veteran Joe Parr shared his emotional response, stating, "I had tears in my eyes. I just couldn't believe that there were that many people around that remembered us and was there to greet us, and it was just unbelievable!"

Capt. Mary Quigley, a Navy veteran and Honor Flight volunteer, noted the program's growth. "It started off very small, and now a lot of states have their own hubs. They raise their own money and set up the whole flights," she said.

The Honor Flight Network continues to honor veterans by providing them with free trips to visit memorials dedicated to their service in the nation’s capital.