By Ted Thornhill PUBLISHED: 04:51 EST, 6 November 2013 | UPDATED: 11:46 EST, 6 November 2013 A group of 13 U.S. Marines returning home from Afghanistan welcomed back with first class treatment after generous fliers gave up their luxury seats so the comrades-in-arms could fly together in comfort. What's more, when the Marines arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Monday, they were greeted by an impromptu parade of police, firefighters and other travelers who gathered on just one hour's notice to honor their service. An elderly retired Marine working for the USO was responsible for the heroes welcome. He even arranged for their plane to taxi beneath an arch of water from Chicago fire trucks after their landed in the Windy City.
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The 13 Marines received cheers from police and a fire truck water salute
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AA has a policy of upgrading uniformed members of the military
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Six of the group were bumped up, but other passengers vacated their seats so they could all sit together
‘There must have been 15 Chicago firemen and an equal number of @placeholder police and they formed a corridor for the Marines when they got off the airplane,’ he said.