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CNN Live Event/Special

Former POW David Williams Welcomed Home in Florida

Aired May 02, 2003 - 10:14   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want to go and check on someone, who left Iraq and did so, and is now coming home a hero. This is former POW David Williams being welcomed home to Orlando, Florida.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

C.W.O. DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW: I wanted to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and my fellow prisoners of war and all the service members that are fighting over there in Iraq to thank you all for the tremendous support. It's overwhelming. I'm speechless. And we are very appreciative. The honor is mine to be here this morning.

OK, I know that you guys look at me as a hero, but like the mayor was saying, I rose my hand, just like all of my fellow soldiers did. And that's what it's all about.

And I'd like to thank all of you. Y'all have proven to me that America, when it's time, that we all come together as one team, and that's what's important.

So, I thank you guys very much. God bless you all, and God bless America.

(APPLAUSE)

HARRIS: We just wanted to give you that snippet there of this welcome ceremony that's under way right now in Orlando, Florida. Former POW David Williams, one of the Apache helicopter pilots who was shot down sometime around March 25 or so and spent, you know, quite a bit of time in captivity and then dramatically rescued, now home in Orlando with his wife, Michelle (ph).

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






Aired May 2, 2003 - 10:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want to go and check on someone, who left Iraq and did so, and is now coming home a hero. This is former POW David Williams being welcomed home to Orlando, Florida.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

C.W.O. DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW: I wanted to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and my fellow prisoners of war and all the service members that are fighting over there in Iraq to thank you all for the tremendous support. It's overwhelming. I'm speechless. And we are very appreciative. The honor is mine to be here this morning.

OK, I know that you guys look at me as a hero, but like the mayor was saying, I rose my hand, just like all of my fellow soldiers did. And that's what it's all about.

And I'd like to thank all of you. Y'all have proven to me that America, when it's time, that we all come together as one team, and that's what's important.

So, I thank you guys very much. God bless you all, and God bless America.

(APPLAUSE)

HARRIS: We just wanted to give you that snippet there of this welcome ceremony that's under way right now in Orlando, Florida. Former POW David Williams, one of the Apache helicopter pilots who was shot down sometime around March 25 or so and spent, you know, quite a bit of time in captivity and then dramatically rescued, now home in Orlando with his wife, Michelle (ph).

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