OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – About 500 Vietnam veterans from Nebraska and western Iowa have returned to their home state with a warm welcome from a large crowd after they spent the day in Washington, D.C. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the veterans returned late Monday to a crowd of at least 4,500 people greeting them at Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

Airport Police Chief Tim Monahan says it surpassed the largest welcome home for military groups by far, including the World War II honor flights. A nonprofit, Patriotic Productions, raised $450,000 through 550 individual and corporate donors to cover the cost of trip.

When the group arrived in the nation’s capital, airport firetrucks saluted the planes with water cannon and the West Point Alumni Glee Club sang. The veterans spent the day touring military memorials.