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CNN Live Today
Memorial Service for Chandra Levy Today
Aired May 28, 2002 - 11:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move on to a huge story today, which is the memorial service which will be held in three hours for Chandra Levy.
National correspondent Gary Tuchman is in Modesto, California, this morning.
Gary, certainly no one might have expected that we'd have this 11:30 announcement from the medical examiner's office in D.C. sure enough on the day of the memorial.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well that's right, Kris.
And this will be, of course, a very hard day for the Levy family. But the fact that this announcement is coming will make it even harder.
Robert and Susan Levy and their son Adam have been in absolute seclusion since Wednesday, since they found out the remains found were those of Chandra. Today, when they come to the memorial service, it will be the first time we've seen them in public since then.
This is the Modesto Center Plaza, it's a very small convention hall in downtown Modesto, about six miles away from home. And there will be a public memorial here. Hundreds of people are expected to arrive here six miles from the Levy house.
This is the program that's being handed out today. It says, "Chandra Ann Levy" on top. It has her picture. "Memorial, May 28, 2002." There'll be several speakers; there will be family members and friends. It's not expected that Robert and Susan Levy, the parents, will speak, although that could change.
There will also be prayers and songs. Now this program is interesting because it's only two pages long. But half the program is a poem called "Chandra." It was written by a woman named Penny Shirizia (ph), in Virginia. She's just a woman who was touched by this story. And her poem that she wrote to the Levy family several months ago is very symbolic of how many of you feel across the country about Chandra.
I'm going to read part of it to you. It goes,
We do not know her, but feel that we do. We pray every day that she's returned to you. Where is Chandra? Only God is to know. But as time goes on, our fears only grow. Please find our daughter, and send her back home. This house is just a house; it is no longer a home. She is part of our family, and as all parents know, Each day your child is missing, fears continue to grow.
And it closes like this:
Our faith is in the Lord, who get us through each day. From sunrise to sunset, as a family together we pray. Where is Chandra? Only God is to know. But as time goes on, our fears only grow.
This will be a difficult day for the Levy family, but we certainly hope the memorial service here, that will last about two hours, gives them some comfort -- Kris, back to you.
OSBORN: Gary Tuchman, live in Modesto, California, thank you for bringing us the latest and the details on what is, as you mentioned, expected to be a very tough day for the Levy family and others.
Also this morning, we've been talking to you about a press conference that's expected at 11:30 am Eastern Time. This is from the D.C. medical examiner.
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