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CNN Live Today

Talk With Organizers of 'Tunnel to Towers Run'

Aired September 10, 2004 - 11:34   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan in Atlanta. Let's check what's happening now in the news for this Friday, September 10th. Powerful Hurricane Ivan is expected to hit Jamaica this afternoon, or tonight, with 145 mile-an-hour winds. The projected storm track takes Ivan into the Florida Keys on Monday.
Osama Bin Laden's top deputy says the group is preparing to strike the U.S. again. Ayman Al Zawahiri apprehended in a video broadcast on Al Jazeera network. It's the first videotaped message from Al Qaeda in a year.

Hundreds of Iraqis opposed to radical cleric Muqtada Al Sadr took to the streets in Najaf today. The Najaf governor's office says the protesters tried to storm Al Sadr's office, but were turned away by Iraqi police.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Right now, we're going to check in on the presidential race. John Kerry has health care atop his agenda this Friday, while George W. Bush is campaigning with his favorite Democratic senator.

Our Bob Franken stands by in Washington with our political update.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And that would be the president and Georgia Senator Zell Miller arriving by bus this morning, Daryn, in Huntington, West Virginia. They have two stops later today in Ohio. Miller, of course, has crossed party lines to endorse the president. Campaign aides say they believe that Miller's north Georgia background might win votes for Bush in the Appalachian region.

Senator Kerry, meanwhile, is working for votes in a couple battleground states. He's holding a town hall this morning in St. Louis, focused on health care issues. From there, he heads to an afternoon rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

In a fiery speech last night, Kerry invoked the Bible in an appeal for African-American votes. Speaking of the National Baptist Convention in New Orleans, Kerry accused President Bush of failing to uphold his promises of compassion by ignoring key issues facing black Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact is, the wrong choices of the Bush administration reduced taxes for the few and reduced opportunities for the middle class and for those struggling to get into it are taking us back to a two Americas, separate and unequal. Our cities and our communities are being torn apart by forces that are just as divisive and destructive as Jim Crow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: A spokesman for the bush campaign said Kerry's speech was full of -- and I'm quoting -- "misleading, baseless attacks in an attempt to divide America."

Now trying to clear up a controversy, Vice President Dick Cheney says he did not mean to imply that electing John Kerry would mean the U.S. would be hit by another terrorist attack. Cheney had said Tuesday that if voters make the wrong choice on November 2nd, and I'm quoting again, "then the danger is we'll get hit again."

In an interview yesterday, Cheney said, again, of course, whoever is elected president has to anticipate more attacks, but he feels President Bush would pursue a more effective policy than Kerry.

Of course, questions are being raised now about the authenticity of some documents concerning the president's National Guard service. Some experts say they appear to be forged. We'll have the latest this afternoon on the unfolding controversy.

Plus, with the assault weapons ban set to expire Monday, Sarah Brady has some strong words for the White House. We'll hear from her, as well as get reaction from the Bush administration, when Judy Woodruff goes "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

That's it for now. Now it's time to go back to Atlanta and Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Bob, thank you so much for that.

Time now for some more Plains talk and more of my conversation that I had with former President Carter, traveled down to Georgia to his hometown, to Plains, Georgia yesterday. Now along there, too, was country star Willie Nelson. Nelson and President Carter are old friends. The two friends came together for a CMT Television program celebrating small towns, like Plains. Before they got to the act of celebrating, former President Carter, he is about to turn 80 in just a few weeks, we talked about the health of another former president, Bill Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIMMY CARTER (D), FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I called him in the hospital shortly before his operation, wished him well, and reminded him that he was a friend and that my wife and I would be praying for his swift recovery. So I think he's doing very well and that's good news for me and all the people of America. I am sure that his doctors are giving him plenty of advice on what to do. I don't need to do that.

KAGAN: Let me ask you about you made some news with a letter to your old friend, Zell Miller, long-time Democrat, you call him your friend of 42 years.

CARTER: That's right.

KAGAN: Wrote a very tough, and a letter where I think you expressed how disappointed you are that he was a keynote speaker at the Republican convention.

CARTER: As I said in the letter, which I don't need to elaborate, everybody knows that Zell was invited not because of he would say, but just because he claims still to be a Democrat. This is unprecedented in history. This has never been done before. And Zell is still, you know, an old friend of mine. He and I served in the Georgia Senate, as I said, 42 years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, called him old friend, doesn't look like he'll be coming down to Plains any time too soon. That CMT special featuring Plains, Georgia will air in early December.

Speaking of that old friend, he is standing by who is now his man, George Bush. He was making a campaign appearance.

There you see today Senator Miller in West Virginia, Huntington, West Virginia, a state that is traditionally Democratic, voted for George Bush back in 2000. West Virginia, the site of that campaign stop for Zell Miller and for President Bush earlier today.

Well, Questions are being raised now about the authenticity of newly surfaced documents concerning President Bush's Vietnam-era military service. Those documents were shown on CBS' "60 Minutes II" on Wednesday night. They apparently show that Mr. Bush's Air National Guard squadron commander felt pressure to sugarcoat his record. But today's "Washington Post" cites experts who suggest those documents may have been made on a computer or a word processor, and not a Vietnam War-era typewriter. "The Post" also quotes the squadron commander's widow, who describes the documents as -- quote -- "a farce." President Bush is speaking at that rally in Huntington, West Virginia at this hour.

The president has not made a public comment on the CBS story or the doubts about it. Just a short time ago, though, CBS anchor Dan Rather said that he stands by the report.

We will work on getting that sound from Dan Rather. Thought we had it. Guess we don't.

We move on now. Three years ago tomorrow, as thousands died, heroes were born at the same time. One of those heroes lives on in the memories of his two brothers and the good works they do in his name. A New York firefighter's legacy and what his brothers are doing to honor him is straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, on the morning of September 11th, 2001, firefighter Stephen Siller finished his overnight shift in Manhattan. He was heading home to his wife and five children when he heard about the World Trade Center attack on his scanner. He tried to turn his car around. He found the Brooklyn battery tunnel to be closed, so he strapped on his gear, he sprinted through that tunnel toward the Trade Center. He lost his life that day. Russ and Frank Siller are Stephen's brothers. They have organized the Tunnel to Towers Run to honor Stephen and all the victims of 9/11.

And the Siller brothers, my guest this morning, from New York City.

Russ and Frank, good morning. Thank you for being here with us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.

KAGAN: Before we get to the run, I'd like to just know a little bit more about your brother, not only as a firefighter, but also as a brother, a husband and father as well.

RUSS STILLER, TUNNERTOTOWERSRUN.ORG: Stephen was indomitable. He loved life. He gave so much back to our family. He sort of was a miracle child. He's 24 years younger than I am, 14 years younger than Frank, who at that time was the youngest, and he was a gift from god, and he meant so much to us.

His own family, he was a great father, a great husband. He had so many friends, many people at his wake considered. They would tell us that Stephen was his best friend. He was a very loving, caring person to his fellow firemen and to so many, many people.

KAGAN: There's so much you could do to honor him. Why -- I know this is the third annual run, but take us back to the idea of putting together this run. Why is this the best way to honor your brother?

FRANK SILLER, TUNNERTOTOWERSRUN.ORG: Well, we have a foundation in his honor, and we needed a way to fund it, and what better way than to retrace his heroic last steps and what he did on 9/11 when he ran through the Brooklyn battery tunnel to the towers where he laid down his life for others. We wanted to make sure there was a way that we could continue his goodwill, and so we have this run in his honor. This year, we have a brother-for-brother remembrance, which is fire departments we've asked throughout the country to come and join us. We have fire departments from every state except Hawaii.

So Hawaii, if you're listening, come on.

And they're coming. We have thousands coming from all over the country. They're come to pay respect, to honor all of the firefighters, all 343 that died that day, as well as we honor everybody, most certainly, that perished on 9/11. So it was a perfect way to honor Stephen, in the same way to raise funds to do goodwill, to help children. And our foundation is about helping children.

KAGAN: And I think we're looking at pictures of last year's race. You got kind of some wet conditions.

R. STILLER: But it didn't stop 4,000 people from coming.

KAGAN: Absolutely not. And the firefighters that are coming from all these other states, the proceeds they raise are going to go to burn centers of their choice.

F. STILLER: Well, half of the money goes to burn centers of their choice, and the other half goes to the foundation, so we can help children. So you know, they're raising a lot of money, but, you know, it's -- they call every day at the foundation, and I talk to these firefighters from all over the country, and they're so excited about coming and doing something to help lift us up and, you know, that helps us. And so many families that come, some other firefighter families that come. So it's a real celebration, this run, and that's why everyone comes together in this tremendous event.

KAGAN: The this year in particular, 9/11 has become very political. You have the 9/11 Commission report that came out. You have -- this is a big topic on presidential campaign trail. Is that appropriate, or is that difficult as a family that has been impacted?

R. SILLER: You know, there's six siblings remaining. We really do miss Stephen, and I'd say we're almost evenly divided, 3-3, just like the country.

KAGAN: Interesting.

R. SILLER: But we do not involve -- we do not get politically involved in our discussions. Too much is at stake. We just realize the biggest thing is the fact that Stephen has died, that we want to continue the foundation, that we want to have the run, and our love for each other transcends politics. And I hope a lot of Americans do the same thing, because things are tough out there during this election.

F. SILLER: The thing about the run is, we want to make sure Stephen's kids, when they grow up, they realize their father was a hero. And that his, like I said before, his goodwill continues, and that's the most important thing for us as a family. Of course, we want to see America safer, but the politics, we don't talk about it; we talk about the run. That's all we care about right now.

KAGAN: Well, it sounds like with the wonderful memories of your brother, Stephen, there's plenty to talk about right there, and keep alive. And the love for your baby brother really comes through the screen. We wish you nothing but the best with the Tunnel to Towers Run.

S. SILLER: Thank you so much. F. SILLER: Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Russ and Frank Siller, thank you so much for coming by, talking about your brother, and telling us the run.

F. SILLER: Thank you.

S. SILLER:

And we will take a break, and be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. More now on the controversy that's brewing over a report by CBS' "60 Minutes II," concerning new allegations of President Bush and his military service back in the '60s. Some allegations that the documents used to make that report were actually fabricated, put together on a word processor. Of course, something that wouldn't have existed back in the '60s.

CBS by the way, though, is standing by its report, and now some sound from the CBS news anchor Dan Rather.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: I know that this story is true. I believe that the witnesses and the documents are authentic. We wouldn't have gone to air if they would not have been. There isn't going to be -- there's no -- what you're saying apology?

QUESTION: Apology or any kind of retraction or...

RATHER: Not even discussed, nor should it be. I want to make clear to you, I want to make clear to you if I have not made clear to you, that this story is true, and that more important questions than how we got the story, which is where those who don't like the story like to put the emphasis, the more important question is what are the answers to the questions raised in the story, which I just gave you earlier.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Dan Rather and CBS News standing by their story on George Bush's military service. There you go with that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: And that's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I'll be right back here with you, though, on Monday morning. I hope you have a great weekend. Wolf Blitzer is taking over from Washington D.C.

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 September 10, 2004 - 11:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan in Atlanta. Let's check what's happening now in the news for this Friday, September 10th. Powerful Hurricane Ivan is expected to hit Jamaica this afternoon, or tonight, with 145 mile-an-hour winds. The projected storm track takes Ivan into the Florida Keys on Monday.
Osama Bin Laden's top deputy says the group is preparing to strike the U.S. again. Ayman Al Zawahiri apprehended in a video broadcast on Al Jazeera network. It's the first videotaped message from Al Qaeda in a year.

Hundreds of Iraqis opposed to radical cleric Muqtada Al Sadr took to the streets in Najaf today. The Najaf governor's office says the protesters tried to storm Al Sadr's office, but were turned away by Iraqi police.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Right now, we're going to check in on the presidential race. John Kerry has health care atop his agenda this Friday, while George W. Bush is campaigning with his favorite Democratic senator.

Our Bob Franken stands by in Washington with our political update.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And that would be the president and Georgia Senator Zell Miller arriving by bus this morning, Daryn, in Huntington, West Virginia. They have two stops later today in Ohio. Miller, of course, has crossed party lines to endorse the president. Campaign aides say they believe that Miller's north Georgia background might win votes for Bush in the Appalachian region.

Senator Kerry, meanwhile, is working for votes in a couple battleground states. He's holding a town hall this morning in St. Louis, focused on health care issues. From there, he heads to an afternoon rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

In a fiery speech last night, Kerry invoked the Bible in an appeal for African-American votes. Speaking of the National Baptist Convention in New Orleans, Kerry accused President Bush of failing to uphold his promises of compassion by ignoring key issues facing black Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact is, the wrong choices of the Bush administration reduced taxes for the few and reduced opportunities for the middle class and for those struggling to get into it are taking us back to a two Americas, separate and unequal. Our cities and our communities are being torn apart by forces that are just as divisive and destructive as Jim Crow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: A spokesman for the bush campaign said Kerry's speech was full of -- and I'm quoting -- "misleading, baseless attacks in an attempt to divide America."

Now trying to clear up a controversy, Vice President Dick Cheney says he did not mean to imply that electing John Kerry would mean the U.S. would be hit by another terrorist attack. Cheney had said Tuesday that if voters make the wrong choice on November 2nd, and I'm quoting again, "then the danger is we'll get hit again."

In an interview yesterday, Cheney said, again, of course, whoever is elected president has to anticipate more attacks, but he feels President Bush would pursue a more effective policy than Kerry.

Of course, questions are being raised now about the authenticity of some documents concerning the president's National Guard service. Some experts say they appear to be forged. We'll have the latest this afternoon on the unfolding controversy.

Plus, with the assault weapons ban set to expire Monday, Sarah Brady has some strong words for the White House. We'll hear from her, as well as get reaction from the Bush administration, when Judy Woodruff goes "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

That's it for now. Now it's time to go back to Atlanta and Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Bob, thank you so much for that.

Time now for some more Plains talk and more of my conversation that I had with former President Carter, traveled down to Georgia to his hometown, to Plains, Georgia yesterday. Now along there, too, was country star Willie Nelson. Nelson and President Carter are old friends. The two friends came together for a CMT Television program celebrating small towns, like Plains. Before they got to the act of celebrating, former President Carter, he is about to turn 80 in just a few weeks, we talked about the health of another former president, Bill Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIMMY CARTER (D), FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I called him in the hospital shortly before his operation, wished him well, and reminded him that he was a friend and that my wife and I would be praying for his swift recovery. So I think he's doing very well and that's good news for me and all the people of America. I am sure that his doctors are giving him plenty of advice on what to do. I don't need to do that.

KAGAN: Let me ask you about you made some news with a letter to your old friend, Zell Miller, long-time Democrat, you call him your friend of 42 years.

CARTER: That's right.

KAGAN: Wrote a very tough, and a letter where I think you expressed how disappointed you are that he was a keynote speaker at the Republican convention.

CARTER: As I said in the letter, which I don't need to elaborate, everybody knows that Zell was invited not because of he would say, but just because he claims still to be a Democrat. This is unprecedented in history. This has never been done before. And Zell is still, you know, an old friend of mine. He and I served in the Georgia Senate, as I said, 42 years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, called him old friend, doesn't look like he'll be coming down to Plains any time too soon. That CMT special featuring Plains, Georgia will air in early December.

Speaking of that old friend, he is standing by who is now his man, George Bush. He was making a campaign appearance.

There you see today Senator Miller in West Virginia, Huntington, West Virginia, a state that is traditionally Democratic, voted for George Bush back in 2000. West Virginia, the site of that campaign stop for Zell Miller and for President Bush earlier today.

Well, Questions are being raised now about the authenticity of newly surfaced documents concerning President Bush's Vietnam-era military service. Those documents were shown on CBS' "60 Minutes II" on Wednesday night. They apparently show that Mr. Bush's Air National Guard squadron commander felt pressure to sugarcoat his record. But today's "Washington Post" cites experts who suggest those documents may have been made on a computer or a word processor, and not a Vietnam War-era typewriter. "The Post" also quotes the squadron commander's widow, who describes the documents as -- quote -- "a farce." President Bush is speaking at that rally in Huntington, West Virginia at this hour.

The president has not made a public comment on the CBS story or the doubts about it. Just a short time ago, though, CBS anchor Dan Rather said that he stands by the report.

We will work on getting that sound from Dan Rather. Thought we had it. Guess we don't.

We move on now. Three years ago tomorrow, as thousands died, heroes were born at the same time. One of those heroes lives on in the memories of his two brothers and the good works they do in his name. A New York firefighter's legacy and what his brothers are doing to honor him is straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, on the morning of September 11th, 2001, firefighter Stephen Siller finished his overnight shift in Manhattan. He was heading home to his wife and five children when he heard about the World Trade Center attack on his scanner. He tried to turn his car around. He found the Brooklyn battery tunnel to be closed, so he strapped on his gear, he sprinted through that tunnel toward the Trade Center. He lost his life that day. Russ and Frank Siller are Stephen's brothers. They have organized the Tunnel to Towers Run to honor Stephen and all the victims of 9/11.

And the Siller brothers, my guest this morning, from New York City.

Russ and Frank, good morning. Thank you for being here with us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.

KAGAN: Before we get to the run, I'd like to just know a little bit more about your brother, not only as a firefighter, but also as a brother, a husband and father as well.

RUSS STILLER, TUNNERTOTOWERSRUN.ORG: Stephen was indomitable. He loved life. He gave so much back to our family. He sort of was a miracle child. He's 24 years younger than I am, 14 years younger than Frank, who at that time was the youngest, and he was a gift from god, and he meant so much to us.

His own family, he was a great father, a great husband. He had so many friends, many people at his wake considered. They would tell us that Stephen was his best friend. He was a very loving, caring person to his fellow firemen and to so many, many people.

KAGAN: There's so much you could do to honor him. Why -- I know this is the third annual run, but take us back to the idea of putting together this run. Why is this the best way to honor your brother?

FRANK SILLER, TUNNERTOTOWERSRUN.ORG: Well, we have a foundation in his honor, and we needed a way to fund it, and what better way than to retrace his heroic last steps and what he did on 9/11 when he ran through the Brooklyn battery tunnel to the towers where he laid down his life for others. We wanted to make sure there was a way that we could continue his goodwill, and so we have this run in his honor. This year, we have a brother-for-brother remembrance, which is fire departments we've asked throughout the country to come and join us. We have fire departments from every state except Hawaii.

So Hawaii, if you're listening, come on.

And they're coming. We have thousands coming from all over the country. They're come to pay respect, to honor all of the firefighters, all 343 that died that day, as well as we honor everybody, most certainly, that perished on 9/11. So it was a perfect way to honor Stephen, in the same way to raise funds to do goodwill, to help children. And our foundation is about helping children.

KAGAN: And I think we're looking at pictures of last year's race. You got kind of some wet conditions.

R. STILLER: But it didn't stop 4,000 people from coming.

KAGAN: Absolutely not. And the firefighters that are coming from all these other states, the proceeds they raise are going to go to burn centers of their choice.

F. STILLER: Well, half of the money goes to burn centers of their choice, and the other half goes to the foundation, so we can help children. So you know, they're raising a lot of money, but, you know, it's -- they call every day at the foundation, and I talk to these firefighters from all over the country, and they're so excited about coming and doing something to help lift us up and, you know, that helps us. And so many families that come, some other firefighter families that come. So it's a real celebration, this run, and that's why everyone comes together in this tremendous event.

KAGAN: The this year in particular, 9/11 has become very political. You have the 9/11 Commission report that came out. You have -- this is a big topic on presidential campaign trail. Is that appropriate, or is that difficult as a family that has been impacted?

R. SILLER: You know, there's six siblings remaining. We really do miss Stephen, and I'd say we're almost evenly divided, 3-3, just like the country.

KAGAN: Interesting.

R. SILLER: But we do not involve -- we do not get politically involved in our discussions. Too much is at stake. We just realize the biggest thing is the fact that Stephen has died, that we want to continue the foundation, that we want to have the run, and our love for each other transcends politics. And I hope a lot of Americans do the same thing, because things are tough out there during this election.

F. SILLER: The thing about the run is, we want to make sure Stephen's kids, when they grow up, they realize their father was a hero. And that his, like I said before, his goodwill continues, and that's the most important thing for us as a family. Of course, we want to see America safer, but the politics, we don't talk about it; we talk about the run. That's all we care about right now.

KAGAN: Well, it sounds like with the wonderful memories of your brother, Stephen, there's plenty to talk about right there, and keep alive. And the love for your baby brother really comes through the screen. We wish you nothing but the best with the Tunnel to Towers Run.

S. SILLER: Thank you so much. F. SILLER: Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Russ and Frank Siller, thank you so much for coming by, talking about your brother, and telling us the run.

F. SILLER: Thank you.

S. SILLER:

And we will take a break, and be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. More now on the controversy that's brewing over a report by CBS' "60 Minutes II," concerning new allegations of President Bush and his military service back in the '60s. Some allegations that the documents used to make that report were actually fabricated, put together on a word processor. Of course, something that wouldn't have existed back in the '60s.

CBS by the way, though, is standing by its report, and now some sound from the CBS news anchor Dan Rather.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: I know that this story is true. I believe that the witnesses and the documents are authentic. We wouldn't have gone to air if they would not have been. There isn't going to be -- there's no -- what you're saying apology?

QUESTION: Apology or any kind of retraction or...

RATHER: Not even discussed, nor should it be. I want to make clear to you, I want to make clear to you if I have not made clear to you, that this story is true, and that more important questions than how we got the story, which is where those who don't like the story like to put the emphasis, the more important question is what are the answers to the questions raised in the story, which I just gave you earlier.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Dan Rather and CBS News standing by their story on George Bush's military service. There you go with that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: And that's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I'll be right back here with you, though, on Monday morning. I hope you have a great weekend. Wolf Blitzer is taking over from Washington D.C.

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