Rarely has an airport seen such joy after very long delays, but last night was no ordinary night at joint base Andrews just east of Washington, D.C.

Three Americans held by Russia

returned home to a presidential welcome.

Nick Schifrin is here with that.

Nick.

Jeff, perhaps even more important than the hugs and handshakes

from the president and the vice president president the joy and the relief of the

families of Evan Gerschkovich, Al-Su Kermashiva and Paul Whelan as they greeted their

loved ones after months, even years apart.

First, he had to shake the commander-in-chief's hand,

but then Evan Gerskovich got to hug his mom

and lift her as she had raised him up during his detention.

Ella Millman wrote Evan every week and worked tirelessly to secure his safety for

491 days.

What about the show of support?

It's all that's...

It's overwhelming.

Paul Wieland's reunion with his sister Elizabeth took five and a half years.

She'd previously criticized President Biden for leaving her brother behind in previous trades.

Overnight, the three shared a smile. And Alsu Kermashiva, after a brief

vice presidential embrace, held her daughters and husband tight.

They've been separated for nearly a year

...