Veterans deserve to be celebrated and honored always. This is exactly what happened when an emotional scene took place in Austin, Texas at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Southwest Airlines informed people that an Honor Flight carrying 53 veterans was approaching Gate 17. That was when the entire community showed up to welcome them.
There were dozens of people waiting in front of the gate to welcome the veterans. A cheer team even came over once they knew about the flight. The moment the veterans started coming out of the gate, everyone was cheering and clapping for them. What was even more heartwarming was the pure joy that you could see on the veterans’ faces as one by one they exited the gate.
Some of the veterans even made sure to salute the crowd and thank them. A veteran also had his phone with him and was filming this amazing scene. You could tell that this meant a lot for all of them. One of the veterans was even crying at being received like this. They deserve to be celebrated like this and even more. It’s a great thing that Southwest Airlines announced the flight to people. Seeing the community coming together for such a great cause is always a great sight to witness.
People Reacting to the Emotional Scene in Texas
Everyone was deeply moved by the emotional scene that took place in Texas, especially with how moved the veterans were. “THIS is how American Veterans should be honored!” one person wrote. Another person pointed out how emotional this was as they said, “What is actually sad is that most of these men are Vietnam Vets they got the welcome that they didn’t get when they first came home.” Someone else wrote, “Finally getting the appreciation and respect they didn’t receive when they served. I am SOBBING.” The video even reached the granddaughter of one of the veterans who wrote, “THAT FIRST MAN IS MY GRANDPAAAAA WOOHOO PAPA TOM WE LOVE YOUUU.”
More people described how happy the video made them as one person wrote, “You have no idea what this really means to them. My Dad is a Vietnam Vet and they were treated terribly when they came home. He went on his Honor Flight a few years ago and their ‘welcome home’ when they got back was as emotional to him as the trip itself.” Another person said, “Knowing they were at once just a bunch of boys putting on their tough faces and living days we will never comprehend.” Someone else added, “You don’t have to agree with the war to respect the soldier. They should have had this welcome the first time they came home.” Let’s make sure this happens again and again.
