Saluting U.S. Leaders

Images of U.S. military officials saluting the arrival of key figures, including the President, at various airbases, highlighting ceremonial military tradition and aircraft prominence.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken prepares to depart Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland, on his first trip as Secretary of State on March 14, 2021.

U.S. Armed Forces leaders salute the arrival of U.S. President Joe Biden in Air Force One at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Jan. 8, 2024. This visit continues JB Charlestons long-standing tradition of supporting the highest offices of our nation with unwavering comment and excellence.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry walks toward an Air Force C-17 plane for the flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Juba, South Sudan, on May 2, 2014.

President Barack Obama arrives at Stewart Air National Guard Base en route to deliver the U.S. Military Academy commencement address at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., May 22, 2010.

040617-F-0623L-165. Base: Fairchild Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrives in Rome, Italy on June 27, 2021.

020607-O-9999M-012. Base: Geinlenkirchen Air Base State: Nordrhein-Westphalen Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken departs Ramstein Air Base in Germany on September 8, 2021.

Two U.S. Air Force "Raven" security guards stand at attention as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry deplanes on April 26, 2016, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, for a speech at Rice University's Baker Institute, and a meeting with the men for whom both facilities are named - former President George H.W. Bush, and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken prepares to depart Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland, on his first trip as Secretary of State on March 14, 2021.

Wu Xueqian, the Chinese minister of foreign affairs, and his wife are greeted by BGEN Edward N. Giddings, commander, Air Force District of Washington, upon their arrival at Andrews. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. President Joseph R. Biden departed Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 24, 2022. During his first visit to Japan since being elected, he met with Japanese government officials in order to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.

U.S. President Joe Biden Arrives Aboard Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield. Biden was greeted by acting deputy center director, David Korsmeyer, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Senator Alex Padilla, and California Governor Gavin Newsom before boarding the Marine One helicopter to view consequences of flooding and other storm impacts along Californias central coast.

1981 - Vice President George Bush and other VIP's wait to welcome the former hostages to Iran home..

President Barack Obama is saluted by Air Force members as he waves from Air Force One prior to departing from Andrews Air Force Base en route to Denver, Colo., Feb. 18, 2010.

White House staff head towards the motorcade after a helicopter transported them back to Osan Air Base, following President Barack Obama's official state visit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 19, 2009.

020729-F-0881Z-001. Base: Suffolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Former POW and U.S. Air Force MAJ Richard Eugene Bolstad (Captured 6 Nov 65) is greeted on his arrival, via C-141 Starlifter, by GEN Paul Carlton, Commander, Military Airlift Command. LCOL Daniel James Doughty (Captured 2 Apr 67) at the microphones talks to the people who cames out to greet the returning former POWs on their nighttime arrival at Scott. MAJ Bolstad and LCOL Doughty were released by the North Vietnamese in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73. Subject Operation/Series: HOMECOMING Base: Scott Air Force Base State: Illinois (IL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Base leadership salute as Defense Secretary Ash Carters aircraft taxies away after a visit to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 17, 2016. Carter visited numerous locations around Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, Fla. during his tour of the local area.

Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John Lamontagne, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa deputy commander, watch a flyover demonstration during the Africa Aersopace and Defence Exhibition 2022, Sept. 21, 2022, at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, South Africa. The Department of Defense works with partners to strengthen regional relationships and uses events like AAD 2022 to share ideas and develop positive working relationships with our African and international partners.

040405-F-0762P-002. Base: Rhein-Main Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is greeted by Ambassador Amy Gutmann, and Col. Scott Maxwell upon arrival in Berlin, Germany, Jan 18, 2023.

050902-F-9085B-008. Base: Keesler Air Force Base State: Mississippi (MS) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is greeted by DCM Conrad Tribble, SDO/DATT Capt. Manuel Picon, DAO Air Attaché Col. David Carlson, Civilian Chief of Staff Juan Jose Garcia de la Cruz Herrero, Military Chief of Staff Gen. de Division Pablo Garcia, and Base Commander Gen. de Brig Alfonso Reyes Leis upon arrival at Madrid, Spain, where he will attend the 2022 NATO Summit, June 28, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

President Joe Biden salutes as he prepares to board Marine One at Peachtree Dekalb Airport in Atlanta Friday, March 19, 2021, en route to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia.

South Africa's President, Nelson Mandela, boards the Marine One to take him to the White House..

010414-N-5100O-001. Subject Operation/Series: VALIANT RETURN Base: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken departs Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland, en route to Berlin, Germany, on June 22, 2021.

U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti Thomas Kelly and Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf await U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as he deplanes at the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti, Djibouti, on May 6, 2015, to visit a local mosque, meet with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and the Foreign Minister, pay a call on the U.S. Embassy and its staff, and to visit with U.S. forces at Camp Lemonnier.

040409-F-0848C-001. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Released Prisoner of War, U.S. Navy CPT Jeremiah Andrew Denton (Captured 18 Jul 65) stands behind microphones on the flight line and faces a phalanx of well wisher and media on his arrival. CPT Denton was in the first group released by the North Vietnamese on Feb 12, 1973 in Hanoi. Subject Operation/Series: HOMECOMING Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

After arriving at MacDill AFB, Florida (FL) onboard a US Air Force (USAF) C-37 Gulfstream aircraft, US Air Force (USAF), Brigadier General (BGEN) Wayne Hodges, Commander, 6th Mobility Wing, is greeted by USAF Colonel (COL) Mike Coman, Vice-Commander, 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW). Base: Macdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030317-F-1698N-002. Base: Lajes Field Country: Azores (AZR)

030221-F-1119C-001. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

King Hassan of Moracco, right, is escorted to his plane as he prepares to depart, after a visit to Washington D.C. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of the Air Force John C. Stetson is greeted upon his arrival by GEN Thomas Stafford, commanding general of Edwards Air Force Base. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken departs Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland, en route to Berlin, Germany, on June 22, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is greeted by an Air Force Protocol Officer as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Washington on July 7, 2014, to begin a flight to Beijing and a U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

Ambassador Krishna Urs and other officials welcome U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to Lima, Peru, April 13, 2019.

President Barack Obama salutes as he boards Marine One after attending the United States Military Academy at West Point commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 28, 2014.

U.S. Secret Service agents are positioned on the tarmac as President Barack Obama arrives aboard Marine One at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 26, 2014.

Former prisoners of war arrive at Andrews Air Force Base upon their return to the United States. The POWs were held captive by Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

STS-87 crew members regard the tiles underneath the orbiter Columbia shortly after its return to Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. Pointing to the tiles is the president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, who is standing next to NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin. STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel, at right, looks on as Pilot Steve Lindsey follows behind him to continue inspecting the orbiter. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Winston Scott; Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA; along with Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative

Former POW and U.S. Air Force CPT David Earle Baker, on crutches, walks away from the greeting party, MGEN John Gonge, Commander 22nd Air Force and BGEN Ralph Saunders after his arrival from Clark Air Base, Philippines. CPT Baker was captured on 27 Jun 72 in Cambodia and released by the Viet Cong at Loc Ninh on 12 Feb 73. Subject Operation/Series: HOMECOMING Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry checks his email before boarding an Air Force C-17 transport at Baghdad International Airport at the conclusion of a series of meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other national leaders on June 23, 2014.

040402-F-6905B-001. Base: Kirtland Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040721-F-7951C-001. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard remove the casket of a fallen member of USS COLE (DDG 67) from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, on October 14, 2000. The sailor was killed in an explosion resulting from a terrorist attack on the COLE in Yemen. Base: Dover State: Delaware (DE) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Inauguration, former President, and Mrs. George Bush proceed through the Joint Service Honor Guard towards Air Force One, on their Inauguration day departure ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An Air Force honor guard salutes as Vice President J. Danforth Quayle and Marilyn Quayle arrive on base for a visit. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

DF-SC-85-11689. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

060829-A-9234G-002. Base: Salt Lake Air Base State: Utah (UT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-05-01651. Base: Naval Air Station, Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010309-D-4980V-079. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

031128-F-0209C-013. Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

General Secretary Grosz of Hungary and his entourage arrive for a state visit. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040811-M-5901F-002. Base: Mcas, New River State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken takes a photo with the local police tactical team before departing Brussels, Belgium en route to Joint Base Andrews on March 25, 2021.

Col.s Kenneth Black and Tassika Davis stand at attention during the presentation of the colors at the 96th Mission Support Groups change of command ceremony July 27 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Davis took the groups reins from Black during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, left, Junichi Sakai, manager of the International Space Station Program for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), second from left, NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard, second from right, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, right, watch as the plane carrying NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) arrives at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center ahead of SpaceXs Crew-1 mission, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Florida. NASAs SpaceX Crew-1 mission is the first operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agencys Commercial Crew Program. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, Noguchi are scheduled to launch at 7:49 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 14, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken thanks local police escort units at Moffett Federal Airfield, California, on October 7, 2021.

Obama reviews the troops during the Inauguration in Washington

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, guided by U.S. Army General Mark Stammer, Commanding Officer, passes a U.S. Air Force C-130J during a driving tour of Camp Lemonnier - the only U.S. military base in Africa - during a visit to Djibouti, Djibouti, on May 6, 2015.

031028-F-2828D-007. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh walk to a Royal Jordanian Air Force transport plane on February 21, 2016, at Amman-Marka International Airport in Amman, Jordan, before a flight to Aqaba, Jordan, for a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry climbs the stair to his airplane at Le Bouget Airport in Paris, France, on March 7, 2015, after a trip that took him to Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and France to negotiate with Iran about the future of its nuclear program and consult with allies about those talks, ISIL, Syria, Libya, Ukraine, and other international issues.

021206-F-0628J-001. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

020520-F-8115W-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Moron Air Base State: Sevilla Country: Spain (ESP)

Arrival ceremony for Ahmed Sékou Touré, President of Guinea, 11:00AM. President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with President of Guinea, Ahmed Sékou Touré, upon President Tourés arrival at Washington National Airport. U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke, descends airplane stairs behind President Touré; U.S. Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King (over President Kennedys shoulder), stands at left in background. Military Air Transport Service (MATS) terminal, Washington National Airport, Washington D.C.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks walks with the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, upon arrival at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Aug. 17, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

030415-D-2987S-003. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Tour of the Naval vessel, USS Normandy, by Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and aides during the Secretary's visit to Virginia

Day of Remembrance. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson prepares to be escorted to the Tomb of the Unknowns for a wreath laying ceremony, as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, left, speaks with Cmdr. Matthew Letcher, commanding officer of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40, during his first visit to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington April 11, 2022. NAS Whidbey Island is the sole naval aviation support in the Pacific Northwest and home to all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-18G Growler in addition to eight Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon and EP-3E Aries.

U.S. Air Force COL. David Eberly, a prisoner of war captured by Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Storm, salutes the crowd waiting to welcome him and other former POWs upon their return to the United States.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland(MD) Country: United States Of America(USA)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken departs from Cairo, Egypt on May 26, 2021. Before departing, the Secretary took a photo with local security personnel.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry disembarks from the U.S. Air Force jet upon his arrival at Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 6, 2015. The Secretary will meet with Haitian President Michel Martelly, where discussions will focus on Haiti�s preparations for its upcoming elections.

051020-F-5586B-335. Base: Osan Air Base State: Gyeonggi-Do Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

A WWII veteran steps off an airplane at Deauville-Normandie, France, as he prepares to attend D Day ceremonies June 2, 2022. Approximately 30 WWII veterans were flown from the U.S. to Normandy, France, on behalf of civilian benefactors in order for them to attend multiple ceremonies associated with the 78th annual memorial of D Day. (U.S. Army photograph by Staff Sgt. Alexander Skripnichuk)

1980 - The U.S. Army Band members, with Herald Trumpets, waits to render honor to Vice President Hosni Mubarak as he leaves the United States..

Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III stands by as LT. Robert Wetzel speaks with a well-wisher. Wetzel and fellow Navy pilots LT. Lawrence Slade and LT. Jeffrey Zaun have arrived at the station for a ceremony in their honor. The three Navy pilots' aircraft were shot down over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and the men held as prisoners of war until their release on March 4th. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Naval Air Station, Oceana State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

President Mario Abdo Benítez of the Republic of Paraguay tours the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park with Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Cory M. Olson, AFSOC command chief, Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2023. The air park represents the history of AFSOC aviation and world-wide special operations capabilities.

DN-SC-04-10020. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Adm. Leon A. Edney, commander-in-chief, U.S. Atlantic Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, is among the officers gathered to greet members of Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) and Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) who are returning to the station following deployment in the Persian Gulf area during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Naval Air Station, Oceana State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

McCain and Obama at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2008.

230411-N-VI040-1026 NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan (April 11, 2023) Adm. James Caldwell Jr., director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, is greeted by Capt. Manning Montagnet, commanding officer, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan as he arrives onboard the installation April 11, 2023. NAF Atsugi supports the combat readiness of Commander, Fleet Air Western Pacific, Commander, Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW) 5, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51 and 23 other tenant commands, and provides logistic support, coordination, and services to units assigned to the Western Pacific.

Aboard Air Force One, President Barack Obama discusses his Afghanistan speech with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, en route to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in West Point, N.Y, Dec. 1, 2009.

DF-ST-87-11845. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

020415-F-6342M-001. Base: Scott Air Force Base State: Illinois (IL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry escorts Afghan President Ashraf Ghani past a military honor guard as they arrive at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland, on March 23, 2015, for a series of U.S.-Afghan dialogues about security, regional outreach, and economic transition following U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan since 2001.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III arrives in Prague, Czech Republic, Sept. 8, 2022. Austin is visiting the NATO ally after hosting the Ukraine Defense Contact Group with other NATO and international counterparts at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. This is the the fifth such meeting of defense leaders from around the world since Russias unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

TED WHITTALL in THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (2008).

Air Force and NASA officials greet the STS-126 crew as they exit the Crew Transport Vehicle after landing the shuttle Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base.

Congressmen Visit Mobile Aviation Training Center - 26-HK-4-96. Hurricane Katrina

President Mario Abdo Benítez of the Republic of Paraguay tours the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park with Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Cory M. Olson, AFSOC command chief, Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2023. The air park represents the history of AFSOC aviation and world-wide special operations capabilities.

Tour of the Naval vessel, USS Normandy, by Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and aides during the Secretary's visit to Virginia

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