On an American Airlines flight out of LAX to Honolulu recently, when the boarding call came, the first to be asked to board were our men and woman in uniform, then First class etc etc.
Not only were they accorded that privilege but all were upgraded to first class, including a Merchant Marine officer despite his explaining that he in fact was not military. Then once we were under way an announcement was made especially welcoming these people onto the flight, followed by Applauses.(I gather that these people were returning home to Hawaii, by the gathering at Honolulu.) I was sitting next to the desk, so that is how I heard all of this.