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CNN Live At Daybreak

A Look at Ground Zero Today

Aired September 10, 2002 - 06:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Of course it is the eve of the September 11 anniversary, and people throughout the world will attend ceremonies tomorrow in New York.
To see what's happening now at ground zero on the day before, we want to turn our attention to CNN's Sean Callebs.

Good morning -- Sean.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

First light already peaking out over here in New York City. It is shaping up to be an absolutely beautiful day, September 10, one day before the anniversary of the terrorist attack that really changed the face of this nation.

Many New Yorkers say they are already looking beyond September 11, but with the stories of heroism, the triumph of the human spirit and the agonizing loss of life, it is hard to visit this site and not think back on that horrible day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS (voice-over): The first sobering glance often elicits this reaction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Words really don't have a whole lot to say about it. I mean it just -- I wasn't expecting anything this devastating, even from all the news.

CALLEBS: A giant hole in the heart of the financial district, and to a large degree, still an open wound for the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you just think of the total people that lost their life here, it just reminds me so much of the great battlefields.

CALLEBS: An endless stream of people look over the site where nearly 2,800 people died, including 343 city firefighters and 60 law enforcement officers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will never forgive them -- forget them, and we will never find the right words to tell you who loved them, how sorry we are for your loss and how proud we are to have had such heroes among us.

CALLEBS: The largest makeshift memorial rings (ph) St. Paul's Church on the northeast side of the expanse called ground zero, an obvious site for a temporary memorial. The bigger question: how to rebuild here and make the memorial permanent?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to see it returned back to normal as much as possible. Also, they'd be dedicating to people that lost their lives here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A memorial is good for us to remember them always because if they just put up something for like business and stuff, like through the centuries or through the years people will tend to forget. I don't think we should forget these people that died.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: New York's Tourism Department is reporting thousands of people are visiting the city just to see ground zero.

Well some elements of the reconstruction are basically universally accepted, including putting a transportation hub back here, commercial buildings as well as a memorial. The sticking point, Carol, remains protecting the towers' footprints.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: Yes. Sean Callebs, reporting live from ground zero, thanks.

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