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CNN Live At Daybreak
PFC Jessica Lynch Returning to West Virginia
Aired July 22, 2003 - 06:32 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big day in a small town. The weeds are gone, the lawns are manicured and yellow ribbons decorate tree trees. That's because Private First Class Jessica Lynch is coming home to Palestine.
The former POW from West Virginia has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and POW medal. After Lynch's ordeal in Iraq and a dramatic rescue by U.S. forces, people in her hometown can't wait to have her back.
Live now to Elizabeth, West Virginia, and national correspondent Bob Franken.
Good morning -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And before the people in her hometown area will see her up close, we will see her up close. You can see we're in what they are now calling "Camp Jessica" or "Jessica Beach." This is the big media camp and a very professional operation that's been set up by the state of West Virginia to kind of keep us in check and allow all of the satellite trucks to have a place to park.
Jessica Lynch will come here first to make a statement, which, of course, will be broadcast, telecast, around the world. There will be heavy security here.
And then, only then, will she leave this encampment and head down through Elizabeth, West Virginia, a motorcade through Elizabeth, population 1,000, on her way five miles down the road to her home on Mayberry Run Road -- that's right, Mayberry Run Road -- in Palestine, West Virginia, population 300. And one of those people, once again, will be Private First Class Jessica Lynch, who yesterday at Walter Reed Hospital was given a series of medals -- the Bronze Star, that's a big deal in military circles; the Purple Heart, that is one that is given to somebody who has been injured in combat; and the POW medal, that one speaks for itself.
Of course, her story captured the world, a story that is still in question. The military's version of it early on differed from an account that is still emerging about how she was captured. But it didn't matter about the controversy here. Jessica Lynch is considered a hero. As you pointed out, there are signs all over the place, yellow ribbons all over the place. They are literally expecting thousands, way more than the population of this place. One other point, Carol, there has been a big boost to the economy. This is an area that is West Virginia's highest unemployed county with over 15 percent unemployed. But right now it's getting an economic boost, no small amount of that coming from the media -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And rightfully so. Bob Franken reporting live from West Virginia this morning.
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 July 22, 2003 - 06:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big day in a small town. The weeds are gone, the lawns are manicured and yellow ribbons decorate tree trees. That's because Private First Class Jessica Lynch is coming home to Palestine.
The former POW from West Virginia has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and POW medal. After Lynch's ordeal in Iraq and a dramatic rescue by U.S. forces, people in her hometown can't wait to have her back.
Live now to Elizabeth, West Virginia, and national correspondent Bob Franken.
Good morning -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And before the people in her hometown area will see her up close, we will see her up close. You can see we're in what they are now calling "Camp Jessica" or "Jessica Beach." This is the big media camp and a very professional operation that's been set up by the state of West Virginia to kind of keep us in check and allow all of the satellite trucks to have a place to park.
Jessica Lynch will come here first to make a statement, which, of course, will be broadcast, telecast, around the world. There will be heavy security here.
And then, only then, will she leave this encampment and head down through Elizabeth, West Virginia, a motorcade through Elizabeth, population 1,000, on her way five miles down the road to her home on Mayberry Run Road -- that's right, Mayberry Run Road -- in Palestine, West Virginia, population 300. And one of those people, once again, will be Private First Class Jessica Lynch, who yesterday at Walter Reed Hospital was given a series of medals -- the Bronze Star, that's a big deal in military circles; the Purple Heart, that is one that is given to somebody who has been injured in combat; and the POW medal, that one speaks for itself.
Of course, her story captured the world, a story that is still in question. The military's version of it early on differed from an account that is still emerging about how she was captured. But it didn't matter about the controversy here. Jessica Lynch is considered a hero. As you pointed out, there are signs all over the place, yellow ribbons all over the place. They are literally expecting thousands, way more than the population of this place. One other point, Carol, there has been a big boost to the economy. This is an area that is West Virginia's highest unemployed county with over 15 percent unemployed. But right now it's getting an economic boost, no small amount of that coming from the media -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And rightfully so. Bob Franken reporting live from West Virginia this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
