Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Americans Pausing to Remember Those Who Served Our Country
Aired November 11, 2002 - 08:25 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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, today is Veterans Day, Americans pausing to remember those who served our country over the years in the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and now in Afghanistan, possibly in Iraq soon. Thousands are expected at Washington's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which I was surprised to learn this morning is 20 years old.
Bob Franken is there with us this morning live -- Bob, I had no idea. It seemed like just a few years ago they got that thing opened. Time flies, I guess.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I suppose.
You'll remember, Jack, that when the memorial was chosen, it was hugely controversial. There were all kinds of veterans groups who felt that it was so non-traditional. And it's become in just about everybody's estimation, the most articulate to war and the pain of war that most people now think of when they're honoring veterans.
And, of course, there were 58,229 veterans who died in the Vietnam War. They are memorialized, each by his individual name sculpted into this black wall. And among those who paid homage this morning, President Bush, who made a surprise visit about an hour ago. His motorcade came and he quickly walked on the walk behind me down to the wall, where he took a flag from one of the military people and laid it at the wall and also laid -- and this is extremely important -- what is called the commander-in-chief's military challenge coin.
Now, the military commanders have their coins. It's a tradition that dates way back to the early years of the British military, where the commanders would pass out their coins, and, of course, the commander-in-chief's coin is the one of huge significance, and he paid homage at this 20th anniversary to the veterans with that.
It's going to be a day to honor the veterans. This is, of course, a holiday that dates back to the WWI and that was 1918, but now, of course, is called Veterans Day. It's had several names since then. It's going to be honored by the president later this afternoon, when he lays a wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery. It's also going to include a ceremony here. And among those speaking will be the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Richard Myers -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Bob, thanks a lot.
Bob Franken live at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Country>
Aired November 11, 2002 - 08:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, today is Veterans Day, Americans pausing to remember those who served our country over the years in the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and now in Afghanistan, possibly in Iraq soon. Thousands are expected at Washington's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which I was surprised to learn this morning is 20 years old.
Bob Franken is there with us this morning live -- Bob, I had no idea. It seemed like just a few years ago they got that thing opened. Time flies, I guess.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I suppose.
You'll remember, Jack, that when the memorial was chosen, it was hugely controversial. There were all kinds of veterans groups who felt that it was so non-traditional. And it's become in just about everybody's estimation, the most articulate to war and the pain of war that most people now think of when they're honoring veterans.
And, of course, there were 58,229 veterans who died in the Vietnam War. They are memorialized, each by his individual name sculpted into this black wall. And among those who paid homage this morning, President Bush, who made a surprise visit about an hour ago. His motorcade came and he quickly walked on the walk behind me down to the wall, where he took a flag from one of the military people and laid it at the wall and also laid -- and this is extremely important -- what is called the commander-in-chief's military challenge coin.
Now, the military commanders have their coins. It's a tradition that dates way back to the early years of the British military, where the commanders would pass out their coins, and, of course, the commander-in-chief's coin is the one of huge significance, and he paid homage at this 20th anniversary to the veterans with that.
It's going to be a day to honor the veterans. This is, of course, a holiday that dates back to the WWI and that was 1918, but now, of course, is called Veterans Day. It's had several names since then. It's going to be honored by the president later this afternoon, when he lays a wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery. It's also going to include a ceremony here. And among those speaking will be the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Richard Myers -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Bob, thanks a lot.
Bob Franken live at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Country>
