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Veterans' Day Celebrated; Honoring Our Troops; Barack Obama's Neighborhood Undergone Some Serious Changes; Fisher House Gives Home Scholarships

Aired November 11, 2008 - 09:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Live from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, it is Tuesday, November 11th, Veterans Day.
We are covering this warship's rededication ceremony, and dedicating today's coverage to those who served our country and their families. This hour, a war widow who lost more than her husband, now helping others cope.

I'm Heidi Collins and this is a special CNN NEWSROOM.

Life after war. A new beginning for the aircraft carrier Intrepid.

Good morning, everybody, and welcome to a very special edition of CNN NEWSROOM on this Veterans Day. Today, the rededication of the Intrepid. A veteran of two wars and countless missions, it has spent the last 26 years as a museum in New York and a symbol of the strength and sacrifice of the U.S. military.

Today, that mission begins anew. President Bush will be on hand with some 26 -- excuse me, nearly 5,000 people and 2600 of them veterans to this country. Later this morning, I will be sitting down with President Bush for a one-on-one interview. He has led this nation through two wars. His thoughts on this last Veterans Day as a military commander in chief.

Also this morning, the president will formally rededicate the Intrepid museum after its $115 million overhaul. The White House says he will pay tribute to those who served on the carrier.

Less than two hours from now, the president, second in command, takes his place at Arlington National Congressmen, Vice President Dick Cheney will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony and deliver remarks.

This afternoon, a milestone at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Thousands of veterans, family members and visitors will mark the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

Veterans Day in Iraq. No holiday for the U.S. troops on duty there, as you know.

And CNN's Arwa Damon is in Baghdad for us this morning, and joins us now live.

Arwa, this is the sixth Veterans Day now that U.S. troops have seen in Iraq. How are they coping?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, I don't think that there is anyone out here who will tell you that it's been easy. This has been a very challenging time for U.S. forces, especially those that had been on multiple deployments.

And even though the security situation here has changed drastically, especially in the last year, it's so very difficult to be away from home. And it's not just about coping with the war here in Iraq. It's also about coping when they get back to America, back to a society that is really very disconnected from what is going on here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAFF SGT. RAYMUNDO RODRIGUEZ, U.S. ARMY: I came over here in 2005, November. And I will admit I was scared coming over, especially having a family back home.

DAMON (voice over): 23 years old, Staff Sergeant Raymundo Rodriguez is among America's youngest war vets. Father of three, on his second tour in Iraq.

RODRIGUEZ: It's a -- it's a hard thing. When I did it the second time, coming back for this deployment, I kind of told myself not to get too attached towards the end. I tried to slowly separate myself a little bit because I knew the day came, it would be harder for me to -- you know, to get on that bus, that one last hug, that one last kiss, and you know, tell them I'll see you when I finish war duty.

DAMON: It's a promise Rodriguez knows he may not keep. On his first tour, he was wounded when a suicide car bomber struck his convoy.

RODRIGUEZ: A vehicle which was -- a white and orange vehicle, looked like some of the taxis that the Iraqis use, just came out of nowhere and pretty much detonated on our first vehicle.

DAMON: These are photos he keeps of the aftermath. Shrapnel through into his (INAUDIBLE).

RODRIGUEZ: When that was going on, all I felt was sharp pains. But I told myself, you know, keep pulling your security, keep security on the convoy. And I started, you know, to feel something, you know, running down my neck. And then I felt, well, this is too, too heavy to be sweat, it's too heavy to be water.

DAMON: His wounds, luckily, were minor.

RODRIGUEZ: I have had dreams where I, you know, found myself reliving the day that happened when I got hit, with the -- our convoy got hit with the suicide bomb, but other than that, not really any nightmares. Just try to blur it out. Try to blur it out, not think of it. This is a new deployment and I got to focus on what's going on now.

DAMON: He has been more fortunate than others that came here. America has lost over 4,000 men and women in this war.

RODRIGUEZ: Definitely appreciate, you know, waking up every morning. (INAUDIBLE), you know, I get another day. A lot of people would take it for granted. And then when they're gone, you can't make up for it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON: Heidi, that's a sentiment that's echoed by just about everybody, even though the unit that we were out with says that their mission had changed from one of combat to one of overwatch, basically trying to train up Iraqi security forces. It still remains a very dangerous environment out here.

COLLINS: Arwa, know that you spent an awful lot of time talking with soldiers and learning more about what they personally go through in their service. What are they saying now, this time around, this sixth Veterans Day, about the success of the mission?

DAMON: Well, Heidi, you have to realize, also, that right now, what the U.S. soldiers are seeing out on the streets of Baghdad and throughout the entire country is something that they really hadn't been able to experience in the past and that is relative security and stability.

It is undeniable that the violence has decreased and some soldiers that we speak to do feel that Iraq, perhaps, has a genuinely turned a corner. Others, though, are very concerned about what the future of the Iraq is going to look like when U.S. troops aren't here in many critical roles.

That overwatch we were just talking about, training of the Iraqi security forces, making sure that the Iraqis are doing the job properly. Not letting explosives slip through checkpoints that they are really trying to build up a nationalistic army.

That could very well all fall apart when U.S. forces do leave, and so there is that concern. Some are also worried that they will end up staying in Iraq for the long-term, for perhaps decades to come depending on how it all turns out.

And so while they do see certain measures of success right now, they are able to walk the streets where more ease than they have been in the past. They do realize that it's a very precarious situation that everything here in Iraq could change very quickly, and I think that's one thing that the last year of this war has taught us all very well.

COLLINS: And of course, on this day, we certainly do appreciate their service.

Arwa Damon, live for us from Baghdad this morning.

And quickly, just want to let you know in case you start hearing some music and some loud speakers behind me, the ceremony is beginning to get under way and there's an awful lot of activity. So I just want to make sure everybody knows what they're hearing behind me here.

Also want to talk about this. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to attend a Veterans Day event a little bit later today. That will happen back at his home in Chicago.

Yesterday, as you well know, he was in Washington for a visit to the White House and President Bush and the first lady gave Obama and his wife, Michelle, a personal tour of their future home.

Obama and the president met privately in the Oval Office. They talked about the financial crisis and matters of national security.

So who will lead the nation's military under Barack Obama's presidency? Some information for you on that.

Now current secretary of defense, Robert Gates, has been mentioned as a possible holdover. He's been in the post, as you know, for two years after leaving what he called his dream job as president of Texas A&M University. Now before that, he was a veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Another possible candidate, Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island. He served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and traveled with Obama on a trip to Iraq. Like Obama, the former congressman opposed the use of military force in Iraq.

Let's take a moment now, again, as the excitement builds from here, on the Intrepid flight deck, to go back to Atlanta where Betty Nguyen is standing by in the CNN NEWSROOM to give us some other news of the day.

Betty, good morning to you.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Heidi. Let's get you a quick check of the headlines today.

Stock markets in Asia and Europe, they fell as investors came back to earth after the excitement over China's bailout plan. The price of oil, close to hitting an 18-month low. It's now at $60 a barrel.

The Federal Reserve is letting American Express become a commercial bank, citing emergency conditions. Now that means the credit card giant will be able to take deposits and get financial help from the federal government.

And the Treasury Department says it will allow companies that buy failing banks more tax writeoffs to help offset the cost of bad mortgage loans from the defunct institutions. Some experts say those tax breaks could exceed the cost of acquiring the banks.

Well, Citigroup is throwing a lifeline to troubled homeowners facing the awful prospect of foreclosure.

CNN's Christine Romans is with us now this morning.

OK, Christine, what kind of help can people really expect?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are about a half a million people who could be getting a letter in the mail over the next six months from Citigroup who says that they are going to try to identify folks who could be helped and get them before they default on their mortgages, people who have been -- who have the means, maybe to have a work out and get -- and get things fixed.

Now they're going to extend the moratorium on foreclosures. Right now, they're not going to -- sell the home in foreclosure on the mortgage that they own. They are reaching out to others over the next six months to work out loans totaling about $20 billion.

Now think of this. Citi is going to aim to reduce the monthly mortgage payment for people who qualify to about 40 percent of their income. So reducing that would -- you have to do something like either reduce the lifetime of the loan, reduce the loan principal, freeze or lower interest rates.

The point here is that you've got to be working with the lender. You've got to be working in good faith with Citi. You've got to have income and you've got to be willing to try to fix this and work it out.

So, listen, if you're going to get -- if you get a letter in the mail from Citi and Citi is the owner of your mortgage, don't look the other way. It's something we've heard again and again from consumer advocates who say some people are so shell shocked by what's happened in this market that they're not -- they're not paying attention to what they are getting from their lenders.

Pay attention, because Citi, just like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America are trying to at least help the homeowners that they think that they can help. There has been some criticism that it hasn't come soon enough and that they haven't helped enough people in the end, but if you get that letter in the mail from Citi, pay attention.

NGUYEN: Yes, because help could be on the way.

Christine Romans, joining us live -- thank you for that, Christine.

OK. So let's get back now to Heidi Collins aboard the Intrepid in New York for more on our Veterans Day coverage.

COLLINS: All right, Betty, thanks so much for that.

Want to tell you a little bit about a wonderful person who's coming up next, sitting next to me here. Her Marine husband gave his life for this country. And then she was asked to give part of his paycheck back.

We're going to be talking to her with Chelle Pokorney. She's a military widow and is now helping other people get through their grief. We're back in a moment right here live on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS DOUG MAPPIN, U.S. NAVY: Hi. I'm MC1 Doug Mappin in the United States Navy. I'm stationed at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. I'd like to say hi to all the veterans in South Bend, Indiana and to the veterans in Manchester, Akron, Indiana my hometown, especially to my brother Rob, my brother Ryan and my sister Tricia who are also in the United States military.

Happy Veterans Day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: I want to tell you the story that I was mentioning earlier a little bit earlier. I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people through work at the Intrepid and one of them is sitting next to me now.

She lost her husband in combat. It's an unimaginable pain compounded by other losses as well. More practical everyday worries about things like paychecks and benefits, the things that we don't talk about very much after going through such a difficult tragedy.

But Chelle Pokorney and her daughter here, Taylor, that you see, have gone through this personal tragedy. And now she is helping others deal with the grief and is working with the Intrepid, specifically the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

First of all, thank you for your sacrifice to this country. And I'm so happy that you are able to join us on a day like this. Tell us first, if you would, what happened in Iraq to Fred?

CHELLE POKORNEY, INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND: Well, he was going in on a mission same day that many other soldiers were lost, and he was hit by enemy fire when he was going to across to rescue the rest of his Marines, and was tragically lost and killed that day, March 23rd, 2003.

COLLINS: And I know since then, you know, it's obviously been five years, and so much has gone on, so much has changed in your life from that very moment to right now. What, what caused you to turn around and say, you know what? After I pick up the pieces here, I have got to go out there and help other people get through this in the military when they experience this type of loss?

POKORNEY: I was married to a hero and he always said take the high road. And when I started not get benefits and things started to happen, I just said this is not good. And I know if this is happening to my self I know it's happening to other families. So how can I help?

I said these are the tragic things that have happened. But what can I do to make it betters? And so I joined, as you know, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and we're able to make that happen by changing benefits and doing great things for the family and supporting them.

COLLINS: So it's changed a lot. But tell us how that happened? I mean, what -- you were trying to go to the dentist. I remember one of those stories.

POKORNEY: Right. They denied his medical care. We're denied Taylor's and I dental -- we were denied medical care when we go to the hospital or go to medical facility and I couldn't believe this is happening to us but -- because the paperwork was done incorrectly. And...

COLLINS: Paperwork.

POKORNEY: Yes.

COLLINS: After you lost your husband.

POKORNEY: Yes. We even had the military I.D., but at that point, they didn't care. They said, well, you just have to take a number and come back, ma'am. And I said no, this is not going to be the way it is and I'm going to speak out.

I'm going to make this better for the families, because there's other families like Taylor and I. There's thousands of them out there and they're all going through and they needed help. And I was able to stand up and join Intrepid Fallen Heroes and do that.

COLLINS: What is the biggest change that you've been able -- to make happen?

POKORNEY: We now have medical benefits for the children and we have increased the benefits for the military families that didn't have that when they went over and they're lost in a tragic war. So we are able to make that happen.

And now we continue to work with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes and we help the wounded soldiers. And they're building a new center for those who come back with traumatic brain injuries as well as post- traumatic stress disorder because there's thousands of those that are coming back that we don't see every day because these are hidden injuries that they go forth and they cannot survive in our society.

So we're raising money for that and that's one thing I'd like to ask people today on Veterans Day in memory of all of our soldiers who have gone before us and that are going -- that will go our as Fred is to help donate. And they can do that by calling 1-800-340-HERO today or go into the Web site, www.fallenheroesfund.org and donate and do it, show your patriotism.

COLLINS: And we will have all of this on our Web site as well...

POKORNEY: OK.

COLLINS: ... because people are interested in doing that, as I'm sure that they will be.

Taylor, thank you for being here. It's a big day and we sure do appreciate you being with us. All right? How are you doing?

TAYLOR POKORNEY, CHELLE POKORNEY'S DAUGHTER: Good.

COLLINS: Doing well? Thank you again for being here.

POKORNEY: Thank you.

COLLINS: Chelle and Taylor Pokorney, thank you so much.

T. POKORNEY: Thank you.

COLLINS: Soldier returns from war and finds himself in conflict, coaching his son's soccer team.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. DAVID BELLLAVIA, U.S. ARMY (RET.): I had parents come up to me and say, you know, we're really uncomfortable, you know, when you're around kids because, you know, you use language or you might be prone to rage or you might be -- like, whoa, you know? What is this all about? I'm good to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Coming home. A tough transition.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We want to show you some pictures now. We are getting some video in of the Air Force One, we believe, of President Bush getting ready to take off from Andrews Air Force Base. He's speaking there and he will be heading to, as we said -- pardon me, I'm just trying to get a look here.

You see the first lady, of course, as well, Laura Bush. He will be heading to where we are, of course, in New York, on the deck of the Intrepid. He will be speaking to a very large crowd that will be gathered.

They're telling us about 5,000 people expected to be gathered on the pier here when he takes a moment to honor veterans today on this Veterans Day.

So there you have, once again, those live pictures coming in to us. Want to get them out to you just as soon as they happen.

Meanwhile, they have survived war, but many veterans face personal battles after coming home.

CNN's Michael Ware has that story now from New York.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi. More than 1.5 million Americans have already served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And as you'll see in this film that I shot during the battle of Fallujah in 2004, for so many of them, those wars will always be with them. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARE (voice over): After surviving this, it can be hard to come home again.

Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, raising his rifle, knows how that feels.

BELLAVIA: I know when I walk down a street, I'm constantly thinking, like I'm, you know, what's going to happen when that window opens up? Once you know, you know, what the reality -- the hardships of war are, you -- you're hyper vigilant. You're hyper alert. And a man can't do that forever.

WARE: Bellavia fought in this, the battle of Fallujah in 2004, an intense house-to-house combat. He has a slew of medals for bravery, plus elimination for America's highest award, the Medal of Honor. But after what he says was the hell of combat, his innocence is gone.

BELLAVIA: If you've been shot at before, you've heard the crack, you've heard the whine, you realize that no matter what happens, there are far better soldiers than I am that got hit. That lost their lives. It is a crap shoot. It is total luck.

WARE: Out of the army now, he carries the survivor's guilt and seeks to return to his life.

BELLAVIA: You can never really enjoy it again. What's tranquility after you've been -- you know, seen a rocket whiz by and you lost 37 guys, you know? It's -- yes, it's with you every day.

WARE: He's trying to make his experiences and those of his fighting generation mean something. For him, that meant writing a book and creating a group, Veterans for Freedom, to help other soldiers transition home again.

BELLAVIA: We have guys that legitimately need help. Traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, college money, whatever. We appreciate all the help, but the reality of the matter is our legacy and the fact that the way we are perceived as a veteran is far more important than any sort of care package you can give us.

WARE: The best thing America can do to help its troops, he says, is stop victimizing them.

BELLAVIA: I coach my son's soccer team and I had parents come up to me saying, you know, we're really uncomfortable, you know, when you -- around kids because, you know, you know, you use language or you might be prone to rage or you might be, like, whoa, you know, what is this all about? I'm good to go.

WARE: He also says soldiers need much better care when they come home, beyond the Veterans Affairs system.

BELLAVIA: We could get these guys at every -- literally set up a coordination center when they come home and help them in every aspect, instead of them going to the V.A., feeling like a number, feeling like a cog in a machine.

WARE: And if Washington or the community aren't helping new kids transition home enough, says Bellavia, then it's up to the veterans themselves.

BELLAVIA: We need to come to reality and grow up and realize that, you know what? There are things that we can do right now that can literally change the world, change our country, and we can take these horrible experiences and make sure that our kids don't go through them. You know? And we can actually make a difference.

WARE: And that, he says, is the veterans' ultimate fight.

BELLAVIA: Our generation is going to be judged by how -- not only by how we fought but how we conduct ourselves when we come home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WARE: And of those veterans who have come home, there are hundreds of thousands of National Guardsmen and soldiers who are now left the military and are back in the community, and for them, the struggle to transition home from war continues -- Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes, it's often a really, really tough transition. That's right, Michael, from being in the military to back to civilian life. So many things needed to be relearned. Things -- a lot of them don't even think about when they're over with that focus of battle on their minds.

We sure do appreciate. Great story, Michael Ware. Thanks so much.

WARE: Thank you.

COLLINS: The sacrifice on the battlefields and now they need a place to call home. Building comfort homes for wounded warriors. We talk with the head of Fisher House.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Our Veterans Day coverage will continue with Heidi Collins live from the Intrepid Museum. But right now, we want to get you, a check of Wall Street.

Let's take a look at the opening bell. This morning, all eyes on that bell to see where we land. Want to give you just a little bit of a notice. Right before the bell rang, there was a moment of silence on the street there in honor of American veterans. And if we can get a look at those numbers, it looks like, we are already off in negative territory. Down 123. We will be watching it throughout the day.

In other news, though, President-elect Barack Obama, back this Chicago this morning, getting back to the business of transition. Now, yesterday, he took some time out for history. Getting a warm welcome at the White House and a private chat with President Bush. CNN's Jessica Yellin is in Chicago.

All right. So, what's on the agenda today for President-elect Obama?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. Barack Obama today will take part in a wreath-laying to honor Veterans Day with Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois hometown favorite. Then, we're going to get some video of that, and not see Barack Obama again for the rest of the day, because as you say, he is going to be in private meetings, taking phone calls and planning for his transition.

What we did, we took a look at Barack Obama's neighborhood -- his hometown community that's undergone some serious changes since he became the President-elect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YELLIN (voice-over): This is the President-elect's house, and this is the President-elect's security. Barricading his once quiet street 24/7. These days, being Barack Obama's neighbor is a mixed blessing. New rules, more traffic.

AVI STOPPER, HYDE PARK RESIDENT: There are tons of police cars and secret service in every street it seems. You have to kind of navigate through this labyrinth to get to where you want to go.

YELLIN: And odd new intrusions.

DREW THOMAS, HYDE PARK RESIDENT: The other day, it was three helicopters just hovering, you know. I didn't know they could do that. I guess when they start running out of gas, somebody else is going to take their place.

YELLIN: The neighborhood is home to the University of Chicago, architectural landmarks and a diverse mix of people, including Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf whose synagogue is across the street from the Obama home.

RABBI ARNOLD JACOB WOLF, CONGREGATION KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL: The prices went up. They may go down now because of all the security that prevents you from going to your own house or your own synagogue.

YELLIN: His congregants have to show I.D. every time they come. All 1,000 of them. So, how do they feel about their famous neighbor?

WOLF: Mostly a little excited, you know. Like this is the center of the world.

YELLIN: Those residents we spoke with say Obama's security is making the community safer, and they're hopeful its fame will bring tourist and money, perhaps, to the City of Chicago as well. This city has had its share of trouble as the murder capital of the U.S., its reputation could use some burnishing.

(on camera): Chicago has come to be known for its deep dish pizza, Al Capone and Saturday night live send up of its die-hard sports fans. While Oprah brought glamour, and now, Barack Obama is bringing Chicago's global prestige.

(voice-over): The eyes of the world were on the celebration at Grant Park last week. Chicago's Mayor Daley believes Obama will continue to draw attention this way.

MAYOR RICHARD DALEY, CHICAGO: His roots are here, you know, in the sense that his children were born here and his wife is from here. And he has many of his friends right from Chicago that are here.

YELLIN: He also believes Obama's Chicago roots could serve him as he develops policy in Washington.

DALEY: Just say it's the first time since John F. Kennedy. We've had a president from an urban community like ours. So, you don't have to educate himself and his staff all about urban issues.

YELLIN: The big question is where will Obama make the western or mid-western White House? Maybe right here in the windy city?

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Hello, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YELLIN: And Betty, the other possibility, there could be a western White House in Hawaii. The White House press core certainly hopes that would be the case. At least for the winter.

NGUYEN: And I kind of bet you do as well, Jessica. Get you out of cold Chicago.

OK, let's get back to Heidi Collins, aboard the USS Intrepid in New York, for our special coverage of Veterans Day -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Very good. Thank you, Betty.

And just want to let you know, while we were hearing some of the other news of the day, we just watched the beautiful sight of the Army's Golden Knights parachute down out of the sky and land over on the USS Baton. That is stationed right behind us.

I just want to let you know that the ceremonies are definitely getting under way here. Again, more music probably coming through my microphone as everyone gets ready and set up downstairs.

In fact, President Bush will be here in just a few hours to formally rededicate the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

CNN's Brianna Keilar is at that White House this morning now with more on his day.

Good morning to you, Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Heidi. Well, you're going to have a front-row seat there on the USS Intrepid. President Bush on his way to you now, where he is going to be rededicating, basically what is, as I'm sure you've describe, a floating museum. This aircraft carrier there on New York's Hudson River.

He will be paying tribute to veterans, of course, talking specifically though, about service men and women who are serving as we speak. He will also discuss the responsibility of Americans to take care of veterans and veterans' families. He's going to be joined by members of Congress, local, state officials and thousands of veterans, as well as several hundred active duty service men and women.

This of course being the President's last Veterans Day as commander-in-chief, so a bit of a farewell, especially as he prepares to leave office here in a couple of months with two wars still underway in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Heidi?

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Brianna Keilar, we sure do appreciate that, coming to us live from the White House this morning. That's right, we will be seeing him land here very shortly.

Thanks so much, Brianna.

Coming home and needing a home. Many wounded warriors need adaptive housing. And Fisher House Foundation is building comfort homes for those vets' families. Ken Fisher, in fact, is chairman and CEO of the Fisher House Foundation and he is joining us now to talk a little bit more about this.

The work that Fisher House Foundation has done for America's families has been tremendous. As you sit here, today, on the Intrepid, which is sort of a symbol, has got so many arms that it reaches out to American's vet and their families, and Fisher House is one of them. What do you think of on this day?

KEN FISHER, CHAIRMAN, CEO, FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION: Well, I'll tell you, Heidi. This, I believe, is what Zachary Fisher had in mind when he started all of these wonderful programs -- was to have Veterans Day celebrated in this way, onboard the ship.

COLLINS: And quickly tell everybody exactly who Zachary is? Because some people might not know.

FISHER: Zachary Fisher was my uncle, and was a patriot in every sense of the word. It was Zachary who spearheaded the Intrepid coming to New York and converted it into an air, sea and space museum. And all of the other foundations and programs came out of the Intrepid. So, Zachary, was the catalyst behind all of this.

COLLINS: And we are looking at some of the video now for everyone at home of some of the Fisher houses. Tell us how many homes there are now?

FISHER: Well, 43. Actually, the 43rd house will be dedicated in Los Angeles in January. So there will be 43 in operation. And then, we've got about 15 more either under way or set to begin within the next two years.

COLLINS: How do they work?

FISHER: Fisher Houses are built, and then they are donated to whichever branch of the military they serve or veteran's administration. They in turn take over the houses, they will staff them and maintain them going forward, so that we don't have to go back and essentially fundraise to maintain the houses. We can go on to the next project.

COLLINS: When you talk to some of these families that end up living in one of the Fisher houses, while their loved one is getting some rehab, spending a lot of time going to doctors as so many of the wounded warriors do, what is it that they always tell you? There must be something.

FISHER: They always, you know, it's a thank you, and they tell you how important this is to them. But that's the reason that we do it. Families make sacrifices, too. When their loved ones are deployed, they are home holding down their end of it. And when their loved ones are wounded and they come home, they are thrown into very stressful circumstances.

They come in places they've never been to before in many cases. They don't have much. The houses provide that lodging and provide support system for them so the families living with them in the house support each other. So, it's just -- it's a fantastic thing, just to see it. But they thank you and that's the most humbling of all. Because they get the thanks, not me. I have an easy part.

COLLINS: The relief on their part to have that taken care of must be tremendous. Are you able to follow up with them after they leave, get your houses?

FISHER: In some cases, Heidi, we do. It becomes difficult because they scatter again. They go home to, you know, to their homes around the country and so forth. But, we try to. Many times, we get letters. And that's, you know -- and I answer as many of them as I can.

COLLINS: Yes, I'm sure you do. Well, thank you for everything that you do, as well. And the foundation for America's veterans and their families. We appreciate it as I know that they do as well. Ken Fisher, the CEO and chairman of Fisher House Foundation. Thank you.

FISHER: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Taught to kill people. He did his duty in the Vietnam war and now, he returns to that country to help save lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FELIX NOVELLI, WWII VETERAN: Everybody was together. And the main thing that really inspired me is how we depended upon each other. This is what brings you (INAUDIBLE) or whatever your mission is, your job and make it complete in the way you are supposed to do. I cherish this until the day I die. And even after. Because I think they're waiting for you. The great white fleet -- that's where we hope to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Many of our veterans are haunted by the painful memories of war. But we want to introduce to you to a Vietnam veteran who is finding peace by helping his former enemies improve their medical system. That story is from CNN photojournalist Ryan Gaston (ph) and Frank Bevonah (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT ETHERSON, RETIRED COLONEL: You folks say that war ended 40 years ago. And I tell you that the war has never ended for me. This is my war. Every one of my forefathers had their war. You're taught to kill people and you kill people. And then you come home here and you're taught to respect people. I was called by one of the majors to the Fourth Infantry Division to bury a soldier. Apparently, a NVA officer.

I was given the task as the youngest lieutenant, take that naked body and get rid of it. So, we dug a hasty shallow hole and we threw him in it. When we threw him in it, he landed face down. Many years after I came back, I began thinking about this man. Lying, face down, naked, in an unmarked grave. He was in my dreams constantly. I wanted to go back for one reason, find the grave and send him home.

We did in fact find the body of that soldier. We reported it to the Vietnamese government. They have that right now. As to resurrect that body, I believe every soldier should go home. And I want to repatriate this fellow.

When we were in Vietnam, we did a little sight seeing. As I met an EMS person out here, I wanted to go and see what kind of emergency medical services they had in Hanoi, in Vietnam. The answer was simple. There wasn't any.

And then one night we were in a hospital, they brought a young boy in, could have not been more than 18. And as I looked down, waiting for somebody to come over to help this boy, he died at our feet. And you just can't leave a group of people like that without trying to do something. Then, I go back to Vietnam in February to assist some of the establishment of an emergency medical services system.

Once we're able to establish in Hanoi, if it works well, it will be, probably get in throughout the entire country of Vietnam. There's an old saying that, when the smoke of the battle is cleared and the guns are quiet, that at one point in time, you have to reach down and lend a hand to your former enemy. Only in doing that, that little act of generosity, you find the war is really over.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: For more amazing stories about our veterans, you can log on to cnn.com/special. And click on the link to our "Veterans in Focus" section, that's at the top of that page. President Bush, speaking here at the Intrepid's Rededication Ceremony. We're bringing it all to you, live, this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ZUKOWSKY, CHIEF CURATOR, INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: We are very fortunate to have this particular Sky Hawk. Because once we started investigating its history through its serial number, we found out that this very airplane flew from Intrepid's deck in 1967. It's pretty amazing. So, we restored it exactly as it appeared in 1967 when it flew off the ship, to come back home again.

SUSAN MARENOFF, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: It's very important for us to showcase the humanity behind the hardware, show from the crew member's voices, themselves, what it was like to serve? What it was like to live at this city at sea, with 3,000 men. What was the camaraderie like? What was the heroism like? What was all that inspiration like? And that's what we get from it and we tried to tell through their eyes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The museum's curator and also the executive director of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Welcome back, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. We are on the flight deck of the Intrepid right now awaiting President Bush to be coming here very shortly.

In the meantime, what I'd like to do is bring in Bill White. He is the chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum. And he is here with me now. Also known as the president, the ruler, the king of this whole entire operation.

And you have been here for a long time now. This is by far the biggest project, a $115 million renovation. Took a little bit less than two years. And I would like to say congratulations, because it's on time.

WILLIAM WHITE, COO, INTREPID MUSEUM FOUNDATION: Well, thank you so much, Heidi. We're so glad that you're here and we're so glad that the world is watching. You know, today, it's all about the veterans. It's not about the Intrepid, it's not about anything that we want to talk about ourselves. It's about support and sacrifice.

You know, on this flight deck, you're sitting on a place where five kamikazes came in in World War II. 270 sailors gave their life in service to our country. And so, this is hollowed ground. The president will land on Marine One today, and come and speak to 5,000 veterans on the pier to say thank you, we love you, we respect you, we'll never forget your sacrifice.

COLLINS: And we're looking at some of the historical video right now, which is truly incredible. There were seven bombs, there were five kamikaze attacks, there were torpedoes, and we were able to speak with so many of these former crew members. And some of them that we showed you, Felix, always comes to mind because he was one of the original crew members and another guy by the name of Luke who was actually there for every one of those attacks. It's amazing what they say. When you talk about having a museum for all of this and for all the world to come and visit, what do you think about when you think of them as the original crew members?

WHITE: I'm just so humbled in their presence. You know, some of these kids, 17 years old, they actually lied about their age to join the military to serve on the ship. When one of the torpedo bombers hit the rudder and knocked it out, she went around in a circle. And they actually rigged sail cloth to put sail up on this ship. And they sailed an aircraft carrier out of harm's way. How does 3,000 men come together and do that. That's what's great about America. That's what's great about these veterans. And that's why we owe them our gratitude for all that they sacrificed. Some have given their lives in service to our country. And we just owe them, much more than a day. We celebrate Veterans Day every day.

COLLINS: And we talked so much about how the Intrepid is sort of a symbol for so many different things regarding veterans and active servicemen and women as well.

When people come here, I've got to give you a chance to talk a little bit about the museum and what they will see now after this massive renovation. Which we should also be clear, the pier where everyone is going to be, listening to the president, 5,000 people, veterans, as you say, was the largest expense to all of this because it was totally dilapidated. They used to call me Intrepid, the decrepit.

WHITE: Yes, that's right. Yes, the decrepit, right. Yes, that really hurt, too. It was something we need to face. But, you know, the FBI used the Intrepid as the Federal Law Enforcement headquarters on 9/11. We were closed down for a couple of weeks. Several hundred agents were on board. Fielding several hundred thousand phone calls. So, she went back in service. That's why that pier and it was so essential to get this ship back to New York, because she serves as other purpose.

But as a museum, when kids come down, families come down, they'll be able to get in an aircraft hangar and, you know, essentially ride the simulators, look at those planes, it's just amazing what we've been able to do. But really it tells the story about the humanity. That's the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for traumatically brain injured soldiers that we're going to be building at Podesta. $80 million project. We're halfway there.

If people want to contribute today, they should go to intrepidmuseum.org. That's how you can learn about the Intrepid. Learn about that beautiful center that we're going to be building for what is now almost 300,000 troops that are suffering from the signature wound of the war.

COLLINS: And we'll be following that as well. I know that the groundbreaking has already taking place. WHITE: That's right. We're so excited.

COLLINS: Wish you the best of luck certainly today and throughout.

WHITE: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: So many people, kind of busy. We've already had 10,000 visitors in a couple days.

WHITE: It's amazing. Come on down and see the Intrepid.

COLLINS: All right, thank you, Bill.

WHITE: Thank you.

COLLINS: President Bush, as we have said, will be speaking here at the Intrepid's Rededication Ceremony. We'll be bringing it all to you live right here on the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Well, we are lucky enough to be experiencing some really great weather out here today on the flight deck of the Intrepid in New York City. But there are some storms elsewhere. We want to talk about those for you. Meteorologist Rob Marciano joining me from -- I think I can turn around and probably see you, Time Warner building, right behind me, yes?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I was there yesterday, and now I'm back here.

COLLINS: Oh, now, you're down in Atlanta.

MARCIANO: If you thought I was there and didn't invite me out the Intrepid, then, you know, listen, I'm getting a little upset. I've only got a minute, Heidi. I'll deal with you when you get back to Atlanta.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Where are you, Heidi? On the flight deck?

COLLINS: Do you think if -- yes, I'm on flight deck. If I waived really, really wildly, maybe you'd be able to see me in that shot, but probably not. Rob Marciano, we sure do appreciate that, coming to us from Atlanta today. Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: You're welcome.

COLLINS: We will be continuing our special Veterans Day, aboard the Intrepid. We are on the flight deck. A gorgeous day here for this Veterans Day. We'll be back in just a moment.