Updated as of 11 August 2026

We’re excited that you want to come greet with us! Here is a little bit of information about our sign up process.

Types of Greeting: Our Honor Flights usually arrive at Dulles International Airport (IAD) on planes that the originating hub has chartered. There are also times when the veterans arrive on a scheduled commercial flight.

— For all flights, we greet the arriving veterans in the main terminal outside TSA security (In The Terminal signup) across from the Emirates Airlines ticket counter.

— For commercial flights, we also have the inside TSA security (At The Plane) signup. For flights that have At The Plane sign-up, you will see this as a separate entry in the signup forms list.

In The Terminal greeter signup:

— You will be in the public area of the main terminal and NOT pass through TSA security. This is the preferred location to greet for most people.

At The Plane greeter signup: 

— You will go through TSA screening to meet our veterans at the gate as they deplane.

— You also need to be at the airport 45 minutes before the flight is scheduled to arrive tp obtain your gate access pass (GAP).

— You will be asked to assist us get the veterans from the gate to the mobile lounges, and to the main terminal.

— Please be sure your email address is entered correctly. This is our way of communicating with you about the flight.  

Once you sign up for a flight, you will receive a confirmation screen that your information has been submitted and you will also receive a confirmation email.  If you do not receive a confirmation email shortly after hitting the submit button, there may have been a misspelling of your email address. You will receive instructions about parking, where to meet, etc. via email from us between 48-36 hours before the flight.

Greeting the veterans: As the Veterans disembark, the greeters will clap and cheer. As each Veteran passes by, please thank them for their service, welcome them to Washington, D.C., and/or wish them well in their day, along with a heartfelt “Thank You!”

Reasonable sized banners/signs, U.S. flags, are allowed (remember, you will likely have to hold them while clapping). DO NOT bring balloons.

Veterans love it when active military personnel come in uniform. We flank both sides of the exit from the mobile lounge in this order: local WWII Heroes; Active Duty Military; Retired Military/Veterans; and then to greeters all the way out to the buses.

If you have any questions while you are at the airport, please see someone in the bright yellow shirts. They are our seasoned volunteers and they will do their best to provide the information you need! If you have any other questions about signups, please email us at heroeswelcomeiad@gmail.com.

We can’t wait for you to experience a greeting with us!!!