Former President Barack Obama surprised a group of veterans traveling to Washington, D.C., to visit the national memorials ahead of Veterans Day. Obama posted a video of the event on his X account Tuesday morning.
In the video, Obama grabs the intercom microphone on the veterans’ plane and greets everyone on board, with many veterans visibly taken aback by the former president’s surprise.
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“As we approach Veterans Day, I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for your extraordinary service,” Obama said. “To you, your family — the sacrifices that you all made to protect our country is something that will always be honored, and we are very grateful.”
The video shows Obama shaking hands and speaking to every passenger as they left the plane. He also presented the veterans with a presidential challenge coin, a traditional commemorative coin symbolizing the appreciation for their service.
Ahead of Veterans Day, I was honored to welcome a flight of veterans and their families as they arrived in DC.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 11, 2025
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… pic.twitter.com/bXF7DIN7ow
What did the veterans say about Obama’s visit?
Several veterans said it was wonderful that so many people took the time to thank them for their service, especially Obama. They said in the past, people weren’t as supportive of their service.
“Well, it means a lot because back then you got off the plane there, and you had no welcome,” U.S. Army veteran Greg Adkins said. “People were almost booing you.”
Navy veteran Nels Swenson said that he appreciates how people treat veterans today and appreciates what Honor Flight did for them.
“I’m real happy that now, with current troops that come back from deployments, they get welcomed back really nice,” he said. “That’s what should happen. So it’s being recreated in this flight, and it makes you feel good.”
Navy veteran and Honor Flight volunteer Capt. Mary Quigley said she’s never seen a president visit an honor flight.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen a president, former or current, greet an Honor Flight, and that is absolutely amazing,” she said. “A commander-in-chief, a leader who is going to show up and tell you that your service was worth something, and I think that’s the important part.”
What is Honor Flight?
The nonprofit organization Honor Flight organized the flight. The nonprofit launched in 2005 and provides veterans with free trips to Washington to visit memorials to honor their fellow servicemembers. According to the group’s website, it operates in 46 states and has transported more than 300,000 veterans.
“A lot of states have their own hubs, and they raise their own money and they set up the whole flights. They set up where they’re going to go, the buses, the flights,” Quigley said. “A flight like today from Madison, Wisconsin, will come in in the morning and leave in the afternoon, and we’ll get them around to every monument that we can.”
Quigley said even a small thank you could mean the world to a veteran, especially on Veterans Day.
“Every city in this country has got veterans in it, I guarantee it,” she said. “Go up and say thank you and just tell them how much you appreciate them.”
