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Old Guard Helps Carry Fallen Home; Obama Condemns North Korea Nuclear Test; Vets Groups, Current Service Members Honor the Dead; Current Service Members Concerned about Brain Injury; 91-Year-Old WWII Vet Wants Fellow Vets Remembered; Obama Lays Wreath at Arlington

Aired May 25, 2009 - 10:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To the news happening now -- international anger and a call to action. As early as today, we could see the U.N. Security Council hold an emergency meeting on North Korea. The communist nation says it conducted an underground nuclear test this morning. Washington is trying to confirm the claim, but concedes it has no reason to doubt it.

In Pakistan, the Taliban urging civilians to return to the battle-scarred Swat Valley. The militant group says it will not attack security forces there. But stopped short of labeling the move a cease fire. Pakistan's army says it has no plans to stop its offensive on Taliban fighters.

There are new developments in this month's collapse of a practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys. A dozen people were injured there. The "Dallas Morning News" says one person who advised the NFL team on the structure has a criminal record and falsified his educational credentials. The cause of the collapse still under investigation.

Memorial Day -- more than just picnics and parades. The true purpose, remembering troops who died serving our country. People in the town of Waterloo, New York, marked the first Memorial Day in May of 1866. And then General John Logan declared the first official Memorial Day on May 30th, 1868, honoring union soldiers who died in the civil war. In 1971 Congress declared the day a national holiday.

Our nation's capital where some of the most solemn tributes are happening today. A live look now at the Vietnam War Memorial, listing more than 58,000 people who died in that conflict.

Also, a live shot of Arlington National Cemetery. The final resting place of more than 300,000 and climbing.

We also find our Barbara Starr live at Arlington where President Obama will appear in just about an hour from now. Good morning to you, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi. We are here at section 60 in Arlington, some 500 graves of those who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan, the long unbroken line of service.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my daddy!

STARR (voice-over): Captain Marissa Alexander brings Avery and his twin sister Aleia here to visit the father they never knew. Staff Sergeant Leroy Alexander was killed before they were born.

This is Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. It's been called the saddest acre in America. More than 500 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are here.

CAPT. MARISSA ALEXANDER, U.S. ARMY WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: They need to know what their father was about. Have that connection with him.

STARR: Marissa is trying to make Section 60 part of her children's lives.

ALEXANDER: Myself and the children came here and we released balloons to him, and we explained the story of how he passed.

STARR: Families, buddies, friends come here. They mark their visits, leaving stones, notes, pictures. Some items, reminders of memories we do not know. Angie Capra, widowed with five children, is visiting husband Tech Sergeant Tony Capra's grave.

ANGIE CAPRA, WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: Got the news that day. I had talked to him about 12:30 my time. And by 3:30 my time, they were knocking on my door.

STARR: Today, a drawing and Yoda has been left, Tony was a "Star Wars" fan.

With her youngest, Adriana, Angie is now part of the "Section 60 Family."

CAPRA: Other widows will come by and put something on for me if they don't see me out there. They'll put something. Kind of a community.

STARR: Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley just attended a funeral for a fallen soldier. He has other men buried here.

LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY, U.S. ARMY: They're still standing shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters of ranks.

STARR: A place of grieving, but a place for young children to learn of parents they never knew.

ALEXANDER: Knowing that this place gives them a happy remembrance of their father rather than something that's so tragic and so sad, that they feel very comfortable to come here and be able to have that time with him and his memory.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And Heidi, I'm going to step away for a minute so you can see here at Section 60, still this morning, on Memorial Day, friends, families, buddies coming to visit, finding their friends who are here to pay their respects.

And just a few minutes ago, here at Section 60, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his wife walked amongst the rows of graves paying their very private, very personal respects to the fallen - Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, we saw that, Barbara. Incredible sight there today. We appreciate their service and are thinking about all the family members of our fallen soldiers today.

Barbara Starr for us at Arlington National Cemetery. Thank you, Barbara.

When the president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns we will bring that to you live. It will be happening at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. We'll also carry his remarks afterwards.

They are known for their sense of pride and compassion as military families bury their loved ones. We're talking about the honor guard at National Cemetery.

Chief national correspondent John King talks to one member about what it's like to have this very difficult and heart-wrenching job.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAPT. MICHAEL BANDZWOLEK, U.S. ARMY: I had spent a year in Iraq, during the invasion, and then, up into February of '04, with 101st Airborne Division. So it was different. It's different now, because I know my old battalion is back in Iraq at the time, and it's interesting to think about: I'm here and they're off doing that I could easily still be there doing that. That's still out there, and it's still something you can do, you know, any time, before or after you come here.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Does that experience enter your thoughts at all when you're here, serving, when you're seeing people who served alongside you?

BANDZWOLEK: It does, just because, we've walked already, I saw two graves of guys that I went to high school with, other ones that I recognize, guys I went to college with or guys that I went to college with, soldiers that they've had. So you do think about it, when you see, you know, someone that you knew, and here they are.

KING: As this Memorial Day is marked in the country, as you know, the politics of the war have become much more controversial. Do you think -- does that bother you, as someone who wears a uniform, that the war has become so unpopular? And do you think in any way the political debate about the war demeans or effects those who are buried here?

BANDZWOLEK: No, I don't think it does. I think that the political debate would happen regardless, one way or another. And it's not my place to say whether I agree or disagree with what's happening. And I think that that is completely someone else's right to do, if they choose. And I don't think that most people in their opinions, while they might be against the war, want to take anything away from the troops who are doing the job.

KING: You do a job here in which you are trained to almost be dispassionate, to pay no attention to what's going on around you, to not be distracted by what's going on around you. You get quite emotional walking through there, because you said you're passing the graves of friends. How difficult is it to do what you do?

BANDZWOLEK: It is difficult. I think at first it is more difficult because you're not only learning a job, but you're dealing with a very emotional situation. As you grow a little bit more comfortable with doing your job, it becomes easier to focus on that and not so much the families that are surrounding you.

But it never gets easier. It's difficult to see someone who, you know, like I said, particularly, someone whose husband or wife or son or daughter just died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to stand in front of them, and to do that job, and to try to remain, not necessarily dispatched but to remain focused on what your job is.

KING: Is it what you expected, or can you not think in advance or study in advance what the experience is going to be like?

BANDZWOLEK: I don't think at the time, when I came here, I knew what to expect. The longer I've been here, it's definitely been an honor to be able to provide a service on the other side of the Army. And there's a lot of people in Iraq and Afghanistan that are doing their job. And there need to be some people on this side that are representing what the Army does and what the military is doing and also provide honors for a fallen soldier from Iraq or Afghanistan.

So it is an honor to do this job, and I'm proud to say that I've done it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Coming home in honor. A proper welcome for two service members who were killed last week in Iraq.

It's called the dignified transfer of fallen soldiers. And it's a solemn return of the soldiers' remains back to Dover Air Force base in Delaware. The ceremonies were recently reopened to the media if the troops' families allow it. 36-year-old Brian Naseman of Racine, Wisconsin was killed Friday in a noncombat related incident. He was with the Wisconsin National Guard. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. 35-year-old Paul Brooks was one of three soldiers killed in a suicide bombing outside an Iraq market. He's from Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri. He leaves behind a wife and seven children all under 14.

And a new Google map shows in graphic detail how the loss of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan touches communities across our country. It's called the map of the fallen. Take a look now. You can search for a fallen service member by name, age, gender, hometown or place of death. The developer of the interactive tool says he created it on his own time as a way for people to connect with the service members we have lost.

So this afternoon, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, stop at 3:00 p.m. and take a moment of silence. It's a request from the White House Commission on Remembrance to remind us all what Memorial Day is really about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Major Charles Benton Adams. He's my second cousin. He fought World War II in the Philippine Islands. He was packing Japanese convoys on the island of Luzon, and crashed into a mountain on the other side of the dive bombing. Just a few months before the end of the war. He had gone to Texas A&M. In 1939, he won the All Around Cowboy Trophy at the A&M Rodeo. He was well thought of -- highly regarded and quite a loss.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Anger, anxiety and international outrage. North Korea says it has carried out a powerful nuclear test. Today, much of the world is demanding answers and action.

Here's what we know.

North Korea says it carried out an underground nuclear test this morning. That word came just about an hour after an earthquake registered a 4.7 magnitude. That quake came at the site of North Korea's first test 2 1/2 years ago. President Barack Obama calls the claim a grave concern to all nations.

News reports from South Korea say the north also fired three short range missiles today. The United Nations Security Council has called an emergency session for later on today. President Obama among the world leaders condemning North Korea's nuclear claims.

Let's get the latest now with CNN's foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty is in our Washington bureau.

So Jill, the U.S. and the rest of the world have been warning North Korea for a long time yet they went ahead with this test anyway.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Right. It doesn't seem to be yielding very much. And in fact, if you look at the statement by President Obama, this is stronger than we've heard from him. So far previous cases he's been pretty mild. But listen to the wording on this.

"These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations. By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community." And Heidi, you have to say, the United States and this administration have tried to establish some type of outreach to North Korea. They have - certainly they have a special envoy who's been going to the region, talking with members of that six-party talks. Trying to get something going. They've indicated that they would do one on one talking with North Korea if it helped to bring them back to the table. But it's not working. And so the question is, at this point what can they do?

COLLINS: Right.

DOUGHERTY: The president says that they'll talk to the United Nations. They'll talk with other countries. But they already have sanctions. And they've already said strong things. So what's next?

COLLINS: Yes. They already have a lot of sanctions, too. All right. Well, Jill Dougherty, we are watching this very closely. Thanks so much.

Here's a quick rundown of North Korea's nuclear history now. It's first nuclear test 2 1/2 years ago in October of 2006. Today's test comes a month and a half after North Korea conducted a long- range rocket test. The U.S. and its allies have dismissed Pyong Yang's claim that it was a satellite launch. The international community has tried and failed to reign in North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Over the last several years, six-party talks have stalled repeatedly. The main international concerns, North Korea has proven itself unpredictable in the past. And the nation is strapped for cash. And that raises concerns it could sell the nuclear technology to other nations.

President Obama expected to nominate a replacement for Supreme Court Justice David Souter this week. White House correspondent Elaine Quijano reports the president won't let demographics affect his pick.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama hasn't yet named his pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter but told C-Span in an interview taped Friday he wants the Senate to confirm his nominee quickly.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's safe to say that we're going to have an announcement soon. And my hope is, is that we can have hearings in July so that we end up before Congress breaks for the summer.

QUIJANO: Not so fast, say some republicans. Including Senator Jeff Session. The top republican on the judiciary committee recently told ABC he doesn't think a vote before Congress's August recess is feasible. And former top Bush aide Karl Rove warned it would be a mistake for Obama to name someone too soon.

KARL ROVE, FORMER BUSH WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER: I mean, they got problems with vetting already. They had the well known tax problems with five of their nominees.

QUIJANO: Still, Senate democrats are prepping for an imminent announcement. On CNN's "State of the Union" with John King, California democrat Senator Barbara Boxer said she and republican Senator Olympia Snowe wrote the president a letter urging him to choose a woman.

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: Mr. President, there's only one woman on the court. And there are eight men. Frankly, if it were reversed, I'd be saying appoint a man. You just need that point of view.

QUIJANO: But the president says he'll pick the best candidate, period.

OBAMA: I don't feel weighed down by having to choose a Supreme Court justice based on demographics.

QUIJANO: The former republican speaker of the House says the choice will be a defining moment. And a decisive test of the moderate approach Obama stressed in his commencement speech at Notre Dame.

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: Because if he picks a radical it will prove that the Notre Dame speech had no meaning and that in fact this is a really radical administration.

QUIJANO (on camera): As for the time frame, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the number two democrat in the Senate, says he's been told an announcement is likely this week.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The people of California said no to same-sex marriages. But the state Supreme Court could have a different opinion. The court is expected to decide tomorrow if Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment banning such marriages, illegal. The justices will also decide whether to uphold the marriages of some 18,000 couples who were married before Prop 8 passed last fall.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants to change the status of same-sex couples at the State Department. She's proposing benefits be extended to domestic partners of gay and lesbian diplomats. Currently, the Defense of Marriage Law restricts federal agencies from recognizing same-sex marriages.

Heading to the beach? Well, don't forget the sunscreen. Some prevent sunburn, well some prevent wrinkles, some might even be a waste of money. We're going to let you in on a secret to buying a good sunscreen in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Memorial Day parade, I've gone to it every year since I was a kid. It took 10 years before the crowds along the street clapped just loudly for these men and welcomed them home. I want to say thank you to the Vietnam vets for all they lived through over there, but for what they lived through when they came home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Well, days of rain in Florida. And here's what it looks like now. What a mess. Water at the doorstep of several homes. Some yards washed out completely. In fact, it's so bad Florida's governor is asking the Obama administration to declare one county a major disaster area. An initial survey earlier this week estimated around a thousand homes and businesses with damages totaling around $55 million. Wow.

Reynolds Wolf in the Severe Weather Center now to talk a little bit more about what's happening there and also the forecast for Memorial Day all across the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: The summer season is officially under way. And you know what that means. Lots and lots of sunscreen, hopefully. But how do you pick the right one? Those SPF numbers go up every year, it seems.

Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here now to help us pick a winning number and maybe help prevent a few wrinkles.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Not to mention a few cases of skin cancer.

COLLINS: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: Yes, but so the SPF is like, you can buy them at 150 hours.

COHEN: Yes, you can. There's a product now that's 100 plus. And so we asked the American Academy of Dermatology, all right. Do you really need that? Does that really help? This is what they told us and SPF of 30 is plenty.

COLLINS: Right.

COHEN: That's what you need. And the reason for that, is that at 30 you are letting in about three percent of the sun's harmful rays. At around 80 you're getting up to about one percent of the rays. So blocking three percent and blocking one percent doesn't really matter.

COLLINS: Yes, and you have to drink more milk or something to get your vitamin D, right? COHEN: Which is probably...

COLLINS: So how much do you put on? Because sometimes I see some people slathering, sometimes I see other people who don't really like the feel of it.

COHEN: Slathering is good.

COLLINS: Good.

COHEN: You need to put on this much. This is a shot glass full of sunscreen. You need to put all of this on. It's actually quite a bit. I mean, you would be pretty slippery, slidey after this. And you need to put it on every hour and if you're swimming even more often.

COLLINS: OK. Well that makes sense? What about the UVA and UVB.

COHEN: You need to make sure you have a product that protects against both. So just read the label. The reason for that is they that they protect against different things. UVA protects against - one of them protects against sunburn and the other protects against wrinkles and age spots. You want to prevent those.

COLLINS: Yes. I'm going to the wrinkles first.

COHEN: Yes, That's right, exactly. UVA, wrinkles and sunspots, UVB helps prevent sunburn.

COLLINS: OK. Got you. Any particular brands that are recommended more than others by dermatologists?

COHEN: You know some groups do have looked at that question because there's so many brands out there. One group called the Environmental Working Group has actually rated different brands. And so if you go to cnn.com/newsroom and click on Heidi's picture. You can see a link to this environmental working group's report that ranks different sunscreens, you can even ask the right sunscreens just for kids. So very helpful there.

COLLINS: Yes, very good. Certainly on this Memorial Day as well.

COHEN: That's right.

COLLINS: Thanks, Elizabeth. Appreciate that.

COHEN: Thanks.

COLLINS: And it is Memorial Day, of course. Iraq and Afghanistan. Two reasons we have more names to honor each Memorial Day. But what about those still in the field? And those who made it home? We'll hear firsthand about the challenges they face on this holiday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. JEFF O'DONNELL: Hi. My name is Major Jeff O'Donnell. I'm stationed down here in Minstiki in Baghdad. I'd like to give a shout out to my wife and kids in Germany for Memorial Day and I'd also like to wish my wife an early tenth anniversary. I love you and miss you all. Take care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Giving you a live look now at the Vietnam War Memorial. Listing more than 58,000 people who died in that conflict. People gathering there and paying their respects. Also a live shot of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 300,000 people and climbing.

Since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, the Army reports more than 4,300 troops have died in Iraq. More than 3,400 troops died in hostile situations. 859 were killed in non-hostile conditions. The Army also reports 601 service members have died in Afghanistan.

Their mission is one of honor and grim-faced service. They are the Army's Old Guard. Their mission: handle the remains of their comrades who have died in battle.

CNN's Chris Lawrence has their story now from Dover, Delaware.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When you handle the remains of a fellow soldier, you don't flinch and barely blink.

SPEC. WILBERT STEINBORN, U.S. ARMY: The standard is zero movement. Unless the command is given, you do not move.

LAWRENCE: Soldiers Will Steinborn and Brenton Bush are part of the Army's Old Guard.

PFC. BRENTON BUSH, U.S. ARMY: The position I'm in, I don't even have handles. I'm just carrying from the bottom of the case.

LAWRENCE: A case packed with ice and the soldier's body, weighing up to 500 pounds.

STEINBORN: Your fingers more hurt than become numb. We wear white ceremonial gloves on a cold steel transfer case, and it's almost like pins and needles.

LAWRENCE: But the grip is firm, eyes straight, jaw tight.

STEINBORN: You learn how to keep your mouth closed throughout a yawn. You learn how to control coughing fits. LAWRENCE: Each branch has its own team, but they all take a service member's remains from the plane as part of a dignified transfer process. Some days are quiet, when it's peaceful in Iraq or Afghanistan.

(on camera): And when it's violent there, several bodies are brought here to Dover. The team never makes eye contact with anyone but they know the families are watching.

STEINBORN: It was very emotional. I mean, I don't know if it was sadness or pride or what, but it was, honestly, the most difficult and touching thing that I've ever done.

LAWRENCE (voice-over): Not that it shows. They call it being locked up. What they feel, we don't see.

BUSH: For instance, I wanted to sneeze since I started talking with you, but I just won't do it because it's just become a creature of habit.

LAWRENCE: But even those trained to kill can only see so much death.

STEINBORN: I mean, we're soldiers, too. I mean, we're infantrymen. We could easily be in their place. We went through the same training that these men did. It's hard because you honestly think, you know, you see your wife or your girlfriend sitting where the next of kin is. I mean, you can imagine yourself being there.

LAWRENCE (on camera): The teams don't get a lot of information about the soldier who's died. Sometimes a name and rank, sometimes not. But they all say they prefer it that way, that knowing each and every soldier personally would make the job too hard.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Dover, Delaware.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Want to let you know how much we'd like to hear from you. In fact, we have been hearing from you. Some really, really great stories that people are posting on my blog. What are your thoughts this Memorial Day? Are you remembering anyone special? Continue to post your comments, if you would, on our blog. That address, CNN.com/newsroom. Then just click on my name.

This afternoon, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, stop at 3:00 p.m. and take a moment of silence. It's a request from the White House Commission on Remembrance to remind us all what Memorial Day is really about. Live pictures for you now, Arlington National Cemetery.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: I very quickly want to show you these live pictures now as folks at the White House are setting up microphones and podiums for the president, who we understand will be coming any minute now to make some comments on North Korea. As you know, North Korea saying it carried out an underground nuclear test. Came about an hour after an earthquake there registered at the site of North Korea's first test, which happened two and a half years ago. So, a lot of nations across the world are making comments and reacting to this news. So, we will bring that event to you just as soon as it happens.

Also, Memorial Day may be intended to honor fallen soldiers. But it is important to remember all of those still fighting in the field, of course, and those who have also already returned. Staff Sergeant Amanda Reuter is joining us now live from Baghdad, and Iraq veteran Patrick Campbell is live in Washington. He now works for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Good morning to both of you...

PATRICK CAMPBELL, CHIEF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, IAVA: Good morning.

COLLINS: ... on this Memorial Day. We certainly appreciate your past service...

STAFF SGT. AMANDA REUTER, U.S. ARMY: Good morning.

COLLINS: ... and your current service.

CAMPBELL: Thank you.

COLLINS: Staff Sergeant Reuter, tell me a little bit more about how you and your fellow troops will be marking Memorial Day.

RUDER: Well, this evening we've actually had a Memorial Day ceremony. It just finished up a few minutes ago and just to honor the fallen comrades here in Iraq.

COLLINS: And Patrick, your organization, IAVA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, I know you that guys do a whole lot. Specifically, though, the Wall of Remembrance. Tell me a little bit about that.

CAMPBELL: Well, right now, if you go to iava.org, you can see a series of messages that people are sending to people overseas and saying -- messages of support. Saying that we remember you. Memorial Day is about remembering those who have served and those who have given their life.

Four years ago, almost to the day, I lost two of my soldiers when I was in Iraq. So, this is a chance for me to remember their lives and their sacrifice.

COLLINS: Well, good. And obviously, our condolences go out to you and to anyone else who has lost a loved one in these two wars or obviously in past service. Staff Sergeant Reuter, I know this is your first deployment. So far, how has serving in Iraq changed you?

REUTER: Serving in Iraq, you know, it's a little different. You know, it's the home things that we're so used to every day, you don't get those out here. And so, from that aspect, it's different. But it's been an enjoyable time so far. I've been here about three months, and it's been good. I've enjoyed every day of it. COLLINS: Well, we certainly do appreciate your service. And, unfortunately, we're going to have to cut this a little bit short because we are awaiting, as we've been telling everyone, President Barack Obama. He is about to come to the podium. We can see him walking in. And we have been told that he'll be making comments about North Korea, saying that they have made a test launch.

Let's go ahead and here what he has to say now.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

OBAMA: ... remember the fallen and those who have served America with extraordinary valor. But before I go there, I wanted to say a few words about North Korea's announcement that it has conducted a nuclear test, as well as its decision to attempt a short-range missile launch.

North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a grave threat to the peace and security of the world, and I strongly condemn their reckless action. North Korea's actions endanger the people of northeast Asia. They are a blatant violation of international law. And they contradict North Korea's own prior commitments.

Now, the United States and the international community must take action in response. The record's clear. North Korea has previously committed to abandoning its nuclear program. Instead of following through on that commitment, it has chosen to ignore that commitment. Its actions have also flown in the face of United Nations resolutions.

As a result, North Korea is not only deepening its own isolation, it's also inviting stronger international pressure. That's evident overnight as Russia and China, as well as our traditional allies of South Korea and Japan, have all come to the same conclusion. North Korea will not find security and respect through threats and illegal weapons.

We will work with our friends and allies to stand up to this behavior, and we will redouble our efforts toward a more robust international nonproliferation regime that all countries have responsibilities to meet. In this effort, the United States will never waver from our determination to protect our people and the peace and security of the world.

Thank you, guys.

COLLINS: Once again, we do not expect him to take any questions. But President Barack Obama making comments on North Korea and what happened overnight there. Obviously, them saying that they carried out an underground nuclear test. So, that was the news on that from our president here. So, we will continue to follow the story, obviously.

Want to go back to our two guests that we were speaking to, Amanda Reuter, Staff Sergeant Reuter, I should say, coming to us out of Baghdad, and also Patrick Campbell of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. So, back to you, Staff Sergeant Reuter. This is, as we said, your first tour of duty. Not sure how long you're going to be there. But tell us a little bit more about how you will mark Memorial Day today. Because obviously I know you have a lot of friends who have served before you and possibly family members as well.

REUTER: Yes, ma'am. Just taking part -- we just finished a ceremony here. Here in Camp Victory. And just taking the time out of, you know, out of the day and remembering them and, you know, some of the friends and family that served previously. And even the comrades today that are still serving here, right here in Iraq.

COLLINS: Well, we certainly do appreciate your service very much, indeed. And Patrick Campbell, you are also a veteran. What do you think the biggest issues are right now for our servicemen and women? And what can people at home be doing on this Memorial Day to remember them?

CAMPBELL: Well, yesterday I got a chance to ride in Rolling Thunder. And it's all about remembering those that have served and those that are coming home. And the biggest thing that we can do right now is taking care of our returning service members. Specifically dealing with the combat stress injuries that they're having. We believe that every returning service member should have to get a -- one mandatory counseling with a licensed professional. That is the only way we're going to break the stigma of going to seek treatment, and, you know, it's the right thing to do.

COLLINS: Very good. Appreciate it. Both of you, thanks so much for your service, obviously. Staff Sergeant Amanda Reuter and also Patrick Campbell of the Iran and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Thank you very much.

They sacrificed so much for us. And now it's time to give a little back to them. We'll tell you about the fallen heroes fund in just a moment.

A live look now at the Vietnam War memorial for you, listing more than 58,000 people who died in that conflict. Also a live shot of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 3,000 and climbing.

CALLER: My father was Edward Buddy Carter. He was a sergeant in Company E of the 60th Infantry. He was killed in Normandy, France. The picture is one of the few that I have of my father and myself because it was made in the spring of 1944. He's one of those people I really wish that I had known, not just as my father, but as a person. I think I would have enjoyed knowing Edward, even if it wasn't as my father.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Honoring and supporting our nation's veterans and their families. Our guest does more than just talk about that. He's the president of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and also the president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Bill White can tell us about many of the issues that are important to the country today, and he's joining us now on the Intrepid. All right, so, Bill, last time we saw you was just I think a couple days ago because it was Fleet Week. But obviously, we want to talk to you today because you're in contact with so many of our soldiers, servicemen and women. And today is obviously a very poignant and special day.

BILL WHITE, PRESIDENT, INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND: Yes, it really is, Heidi. And thank you so much for bringing this to our attention and to the country's. Today's the day that we pause and honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice like Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Mike Murphy, who is from Patchogue, Long Island. On June 28th, 2005, while risking his life, he essentially was mortally wounded and surfaced out of the Taliban hills there to essentially take mortar fire so he could communicate to save his men. And so, he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor.

We honor him and all of the 4,289 service members that were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan at our 22nd annual Fleet Week here in New York City. Five thousand troops, 13 ships. It's a great chance for people to come down and visit the troops and say thank you to them for their service.

COLLINS: No question about that. I know you have an awful lot of veterans who are there today. You just came out of a ceremony that was held on the ship there. Tell us about that.

WHITE: Well, we're about to go up to the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Governor Paterson, two U.S. senators, Gillibrand and Schumer, are going to be here with 3,000 veterans up on the flight deck. A solemn ceremony, a wreath laying, a 21-gun salute. And of course, thousands of these veterans take hold of this American flag while "Taps" is played. And it's just an amazing ceremony up there.

And we also remember what's going on today. You know, we have so many brave service members in harm's way. And we pray for them to come home safely to their families.

COLLINS: Bill, what do you hear most from the veterans and from family members that you work so closely with, of course, with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, their concern for veterans today?

WHITE: Well, I think the biggest concern is this signature wound of the war of these terrible IED explosions. It's called traumatic brain injury. We have about 300,000 of our brave troops -- they're so young, you know, 19 to 24 years old -- that are suffering from this. And, you know, they need our help.

So, health care, I think, is so important. I think it's the singular issue right now that's on their minds. And you know what, America cares about them. We just have to focus the energy and provide support. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is building a traumatic brain injury center at Bethesda, $60 million. We've got 3 million left to raise. You can go on our Web site, intrepidfallenheroesfund, and make a contribution. A hundred percent goes to this. And we need your help today.

COLLINS: I've been asking kind of the same question from a lot of our guests today because we've been able to talk with servicemen and women. We've been able to talk with families who have lost loved ones about what they think people should be doing, people who are watching from home, should be doing on a day like Memorial Day.

WHITE: Well, you know, it's really important because it is a time for family, and it's a great time to have a barbecue. And we all know that.

But I know everybody listening to CNN right now, they're Americans. Americans first. And we have to stop and take time today to pause and understand why we have our freedom. It comes at a heavy price. And it's the price of young American lives, those of all ages that are willing to go and fight the battles. Whether you're for them or against them has nothing to do with us. Just about supporting those troops, telling them that you love them, you thank them and you respect their service.

COLLINS: Bill White of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and also the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Bill, sure do appreciate it. Hope you guys have a great day out there today. Thank you.

WHITE: Thank you. God bless you, Heidi. Thank you.

COLLINS: Thanks.

And also we want to hear from you. We want to hear more from you, I should say, because we're getting some really great stories, terrific stories, coming into our blog. What are your thoughts this Memorial Day? Are you remembering anyone special?

Post your comments on our blog. That address, CNN.com/newsroom. Just click on my name. For now, though, let's listen. Once again, Arlington National Cemetery.

(GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honor guard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Attention!

(GUNFIRE)

ANNOUNCER: President Obama has arrived and is being greeted by the host for today's observance, Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Major General...

COLLINS: Once again, giving you an idea of what's happening at Arlington National Cemetery, the 21-gun salute there, the Tomb of the Unknowns. As you just heard mentioned across the microphone, the P.A. system there, President Barack Obama has arrived. Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen also there. We of course are honoring our fallen troops here as well. And just moments from now, President Obama will lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. And when it happens, we'll bring that to you live as well. Scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern. We will also carry his remarks afterwards.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A 91-year-year-old World War II veteran on a new mission for his country. He wants to make sure the sacrifices his brothers in arms made are fully accounted for on the registry of the Library of Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WESLEY O. NICCOLLS SR., RETIRED WORLD WAR II VETERAN: We are here at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. And I have a lot of respect for the World War II veterans. Sir, you have any World War II veterans in your family, living or not?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My father-in-law.

NICCOLLS: Is he listed on the Library of Congress register.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not sure whether he is or not.

NICCOLLS: Well, this is how you make sure and how you register him.

So, I want to get as many of them on there as I possibly can. I generally try to make it once a week. Sometimes I'll come on Saturday and Sunday both, but not -- depends on how I feel. I do what I can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How old are you, sir?

NICCOLLS: Ninety-one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless you.

NICCOLLS: So many World War II veterans don't know that this registry...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Though we very much want to hear that veteran's story, we also want to take a moment to take you live now to President Barack Obama in the foreground. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen standing behind him. Let's listen in for just a moment to Arlington cemetery, this national observance of Memorial Day.