18 Photos of Beautiful Veteran Homecomings

Kelsey Lucas /

On Veterans Day, the nation honors all those who served in the military—both dead and alive. In celebration, we’ve compiled some of the best homecomings of our veterans.

Naval Air Crewmen 2nd Class Ryan Roberson greets his wife and for the first time, his 5-month-old daughter, during the homecoming in 2012. He returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island from a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios/Released)

Naval Air Crewmen 2nd Class Ryan Roberson greets his wife and, for the first time, his 5-month-old daughter, during the homecoming in 2012. He returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island from a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios/Released)

Lt. Andrew Wood is greeted by his wife daughter during a homecoming celebration as he returns from a seven-month deployment in 2013. Wood was deployed to support the United States Africa Command counter-terrorism, intelligence and reconnaissance missions. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ian W. Anderson/Released)

Lt. Andrew Wood is greeted by his wife and daughter during a homecoming celebration as he returns from a seven-month deployment in 2013. Wood was deployed to support the United States Africa Command counter-terrorism, intelligence, and reconnaissance missions. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ian W. Anderson/Released)

Lt. Cmdr. Nate Lyon is reunited with his wife and children during a homecoming celebration for the squadron in 2012 after a six month deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio P. Turretto Ramos/Released)

Lt. Cmdr. Nate Lyon is reunited with his wife and children during a homecoming celebration for the squadron in 2012 after a six-month deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio P. Turretto Ramos/Released)

Staff Sgt. Michael Bernquist, holds his arms out for his daughter Evelyn, 1, after returning from a 12 month deployment to Iraq at Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 4, 2010. Bernquist was also greeted by his wife, Brandi, and older daughter Brooke, 4. (Photo: US Army Flickr)

Staff Sgt. Michael Bernquist holds his arms out for his daughter Evelyn, 1, after returning from a 12-month deployment to Iraq at Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 4, 2010. Bernquist was also greeted by his wife, Brandi, and older daughter Brooke, 4. (Photo: US Army Flickr)

Georgia Army National Guard Capt. Chad Tyson hugs his son Chase during a welcome home ceremony for the Georgia National Guard, which returned home to Marietta, Ga., after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. (Photo: National Guard Flickr)

Georgia Army National Guard Capt. Chad Tyson hugs his son Chase during a welcome home ceremony for the Georgia National Guard, which returned home to Marietta, Ga., after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. (Photo: National Guard Flickr)

Spc. Jessie Nelson, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hugs her husband, Matt, after her eight-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013. (Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth, 4th SBCT, 2nd ID Public Affairs Office)

Spc. Jessie Nelson, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hugs her husband, Matt, after her eight-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013. (Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth, 4th SBCT, 2nd ID Public Affairs Office)

193 service armed forces and Texas members from all branches of the armed forces are greeted by family and friends at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas May 3, 2007, after returning home from Iraq. (Photo: DoD photo by Cherie A. Thurlby)

One hundred ninety-three service armed forces and Texas members from all branches of the armed forces are greeted by family and friends at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas May 3, 2007, after returning home from Iraq. (Photo: DoD photo by Cherie A. Thurlby)

Kira Slosser gives her brother Army Sgt. John Slosser a warm welcome home hug Feb. 21. He returned home after eight months serving in Iraq. (Photo: Maj. Cotton Puryear, Virginia Guard Public Affairs)

Kira Slosser gives her brother Army Sgt. John Slosser a warm welcome-home hug Feb. 21. He returned home after eight months serving in Iraq. (Photo: Maj. Cotton Puryear, Virginia Guard Public Affairs)

Sgt. 1st Class Danny J. Hocker, is embraced by his family during a welcome home ceremony in Vilseck, Germany, Oct. 23, 2008. He returned to Germany after a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photo: US Army Photo by SPC Pastora Y. Hall/Released)

Sgt. 1st Class Danny J. Hocker, is embraced by his family during a welcome home ceremony in Vilseck, Germany, Oct. 23, 2008. He returned to Germany after a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photo: US Army Photo by SPC Pastora Y. Hall/Released)

Cpl. Daniel G. Dillender is reunited with his wife, Angelica Dillender, and their dog Bella at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 20, 2014. Dillender was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Keonaona C. Paulo/ Released)

Cpl. Daniel G. Dillender is reunited with his wife, Angelica Dillender, and their dog Bella at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 20, 2014. Dillender was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Keonaona C. Paulo/ Released)

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Anthony Gitar, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), hugs his wife, Lori, following the ship's return to Naval Station Norfolk. George H.W. Bush completed its first combat deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Anthony Gitar, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), hugs his wife, Lori, following the ship’s return to Naval Station Norfolk. George H.W. Bush completed its first combat deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

Navy Petty Officer Second Class Mitch T. Embry, corpsman, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, greets his wife after returning from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom June 9, 2010. (Photo: United States Marine Corps Flickr)

Navy Petty Officer Second Class Mitch T. Embry, corpsman, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, greets his wife after returning from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom June 9, 2010. (Photo: United States Marine Corps Flickr)

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Harris embraces his daughter during a homecoming celebration at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif., Aug. 7, 2013. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Harris embraces his daughter during a homecoming celebration at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif., Aug. 7, 2013. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy pilots greet friends and family members during a homecoming ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va. Dec. 19, 2010. They completed a seven-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. (Photo: DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Indra Bosko, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy pilots greet friends and family members during a homecoming ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., Dec. 19, 2010. They completed a seven-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. (Photo: DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Indra Bosko, U.S. Navy/Released)

.S. Navy Lt. David Jarrett greets his daughter during a homecoming celebration at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., March 17, 2010. Jarrett is returned from a six-month deployment that supported counterpiracy operations in the Horn of Africa. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary B. Granger Jr., U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy Lt. David Jarrett greets his daughter during a homecoming celebration at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., March 17, 2010. Jarrett returned from a six-month deployment that supported counter-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary B. Granger Jr., U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Jerrilynn Sweat hugs her daughters during a homecoming ceremony in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 21, 2010 following a five-month deployment to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chelsea Radford, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Jerrilynn Sweat hugs her daughters during a homecoming ceremony in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 21, 2010, following a five-month deployment to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. (Photo: DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chelsea Radford, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Army Spc. Leo Leroy gets a kiss from his wife and a welcome from his dogs Yoshi and Bruiser at a homecoming ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 28, 2009. Leroy returned after a year in Qayarrah in northern Iraq. (Photo: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis)

U.S. Army Spc. Leo Leroy gets a kiss from his wife and a welcome from his dogs Yoshi and Bruiser at a homecoming ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 28, 2009. Leroy returned after a year in Qayarrah in northern Iraq. (Photo: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis)