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CNN Live At Daybreak

Williams Tribute to Be Held this Evening

Aired July 22, 2002 - 06:51   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At Boston's Fenway Park this evening, a tribute to baseball great Ted Williams. It is billed as a celebration of an American hero and some other stars from sports and politics are expected to be on hand to pay tribute to Williams, who, of course, died earlier this month.

Doug Meehan of our affiliate WHDH is at Fenway Park right now with more -- Doug.

DOUG MEEHAN, WHDH CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.

You know, this is really going to be a two part celebration of Ted Williams' life here at Fenway Park. The gates will be opening up at 9:00 a.m., where fans of Ted Williams can come down to the park and simply just take a walk around, enjoy the sites and actually take a walk out into left field, where Ted Williams played ball here at Fenway Park with the Red Sox.

The workers are still continuing the, get the preparations in place. Ten thousand carnations are being placed out in left field where Ted played. They make up his number nine. Just above it, the famed green monster. The pictures depicting the three parts of this celebration. You've got him as the Red Sox All Star. Then, of course, you have his time as a pilot during the Korean War and WWII. And then another one which he was the most proud of was his time involved with the Jimmy Fund, which is a fund raising organization here in the city of Boston.

Later on this evening at 6:00 there will be another celebration, more of a formal celebration of his life. Speakers include the current Red Sox player, Nomar Garciaparra, former Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski and his former wing man in the Korean War, Senator John Glenn will also be in attendance.

So as I mentioned, that one about 18,000 people have bought tickets so far. Still plenty of seats available for that one. That starts at 6:00 but the free tribute where folks can just kind of come in and take a walk around and remember his life starts at 9:00 -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Doug, thanks very much for joining us this morning.

MEEHAN: You're welcome. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com