Welcoming Family Home: The Best Part of Holidays [VIDEO]

Christmas Eve weather cooperated to allow flights in on time for the holidays, which gave area families their best present: having military members home after being stationed overseas.

As shown in this WBAL TV video, the Clancey family eagerly awaited their son's flight at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. He missed Christmas with the family because of a year-long deployment out of the country.

Once the hugs were over the family headed home for crab cakes and other treats.

Not every service member was able to spend the holidays at home, so President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama took time out of their vacation Wednesday to visit Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where nearly 600 troops and their families gathered in a mess hall, reports the Huffington Post.

"Michelle and I know that we would not enjoy the freedoms we do if it weren't for the incredible dedication and professionalism and work that you do," Obama said. "The least we can do is just let you all know we're grateful to you."

The Hawaiian-born president wished the troops a "mele kalikimaka" — a local phrase for "merry Christmas" — before he and Mrs. Obama spent about an hour and a half posing for photos.