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Fury Erupts Over Deadly Raid; Oil Spill Could Gush All Summer; Mementos for the Fallen; Oil Spill Gulf Coast Catastrophe; Rescuing the Wildlife

Aired May 31, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. Happy Memorial Day. I'm Brooke Baldwin in this morning for Kyra Phillips. And here is what we are working on for you for this holiday.

Israeli commandos dropping it on ships taking aid to the Gaza Strip. This is a deadly raid at the -- in the middle of the night. Now the White House said it's trying to understand the back story. But the global fallout, as you guessed, already started.

And so much for the top kill. The good news, BP has a new plan. The bad news, the oil might gush all summer.

And of course, we as well this morning honoring fallen heroes this Memorial Day, including the ceremonial wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown.

Want to begin now with the developing crisis right now in the Middle East and growing diplomatic outrage.

Here's what we know at this point in time. That could change but so far overnight, commandos in the Israeli military stormed six ships. This is the flotilla loaded with food, medicine, construction supplies. Where was it headed? For the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Now as part of this whole melee, at least 10 people were killed, dozens others injured in the fiasco happened as the vessels were sailing in international waters off of the Mediterranean Coast.

And take a look with me at this video because clearly pandemonium unfolding here on as Israeli -- as Israeli naval troops were descending on ropes from these helicopters, from above, on to the largest of the ships.

Here are some more of those pictures. That largest ship from Turkey, you can see some of the brawls have been breaking out as activists were trying to fend off the commandos with axes and knives.

Now just let me back up here. You know the situation in Gaza has been desperate there for years. Israel has maintained this three-year blockade of the strip, really, in an effort to isolate Hamas, who took control of the territory three years ago. 2007, Israel -- keep in mind -- considers Hamas a terror organization. How many people were on board these six ships? We're are told right around 600 pro-Palestinian passengers were on board those boats, including a Nobel Peace laureate, European officials, even a holocaust survivor.

Israel maintaining these organizers here are well-known for their ties to global jihad and that the convoy had a more sinister purpose rather than simply -- as they said -- delivering humanitarian aid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANNY AYALON, ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: I want to report this morning that the armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organization was a premeditated and outrageous provocation.

The organizers are well-known for their ties to global jihad, al Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arm struggling and deadly terror. On board the ship we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces.

The organizer's intent was violent. Their method was violent and their results were unfortunately violent. Israel regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now that is Israel's stance. Meantime Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has already declared three days of warning. And one of his aids says, quote, "We certainly condemn such an attack. This is a clear manifestation of Israel's determination to undermine the will of the Palestinian people to maintain its siege of Gaza, the longest in modern times."

And as you can imagine here, already really, a global backlash erupting right now. In fact, Turkey's foreign ministry calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Israel's military operation. And ralliers, protesters taking over some of the streets in Istanbul.

And that is where our Ivan Watson is for us this morning.

And Ivan, we know both sides here -- you know this as well as I do, both sides have their version of what happened but when you look at these pictures, and I hear we're about to get some more surveillance pictures. In fact I'm hearing in my ear we're getting some of these surveillance pictures in now.

And we'll all kind of watch these together for the first time as we have these six different ships, 600 pro-Palestinian people saying they're delivering humanitarian aid. And as we look at the pictures, Ivan, the pictures really perhaps tell the truth of what really is unfolding here.

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right, Brooke. I mean what we see is a pre-dawn raid, helicopters coming over these ships while they were out in international waters. That's according to the Turkish government and according to the organizations themselves that organizers convoy.

Commandos armed, repelling down on ropes, landing on this ships. And then as you mentioned, pandemonium erupting. Now the Israeli government is arguing that the protesters were organized and attacking them with knives and clubs and even seized some of the weapons of some of the soldiers.

But at the end of the day, these 10 of these activists, these protesters on board the ship, that were carrying -- according to them -- humanitarian supplies for people who have been on block -- under blockade for lee years, they were the ones who died. And they were an international group.

There are dozens of countries represented there. And at the end of the day now, it is Israel that is being called out on the carpet for this. You have governments all across Europe including here in Turkey, summoning the Israeli ambassadors to their capitals to ask them to explain how this could have happened, particularly out in international waters.

The Turkish government here is calling this a breach of international law. The Turkish foreign minister is calling this piracy, an act of piracy. And that is very significant, Brooke, because Turkey and Israel have traditionally been allies in the Middle East. In fact, Turkey has traditionally been Israel's only Muslim friend.

That alliance is on the rocks right now -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: And Ivan, I'm just looking at these pictures here as you've been talking. It looks like some of the medical personnel perhaps responding. I've seen blood. We see some of these men with guns and perhaps even some of the aerial views, perhaps even from some of the Israeli helicopters.

But unbelievable pictures here that we're now getting at CNN. And let's just continue our conversation, Ivan. I know you've been in Istanbul and there's been all kinds of outrage. I saw some protesters earlier, looked like hundreds of protesters.

Explain to me why there is such street outrage over this incident from the Turks.

WATSON: Well, first of all, I saw one of these ships leave from Istanbul last week and it was a celebration. They fired off fireworks as the -- a ship full of aid was going to head towards Israel.

You already had protesters gathering at the Israeli consulate here in Istanbul hours before this flash even took place -- midnight last night. And then as the news came in, things started to get out of control at the Israeli consulate here in Istanbul. Some windows were broken. Riot police called in to keep the crowd back.

Behind me in this square -- it's like the Times Square of Istanbul -- you had thousands people gathered. Some of them burning flags -- Israeli flags -- chanting death to Zionist dogs. We talked to one young woman to explain just why people were so angry and what this could do to Israel's traditional alliance with Turkey. Take a listen to what she had to say, Brooke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't care the relationship between states but I care for people. And these people are caring for people, too. They are anxious about their families in their boats. They are anxious about friends from 15 countries all around the world, and they are -- they want peace for Palestinians and also for Israelis.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Now here's the really important thing that I've observed here. The people who are helping organize this charity, Brooke, tended to be from Islamist fringe political groups. Most Turks are not terribly passionate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Now what I'm hearing is outrage rippling out through mainstream society here. A taxi driver I've been driving with asking, how many people got killed on this humanitarian aid convoy.

I watched a woman who did not look like she was a member of any political party walk up and spit on the building where the Israeli consulate is located and some of that outrage is clearly rippling out as well across Europe where you are having condemnation coming in from European capitals.

And it could impact an upcoming meeting that's just scheduled to take place in Washington between the U.S. president and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this week -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Right. We know Mr. Netanyahu is supposed to be there tomorrow. We're still waiting to hear if perhaps his plans would change.

But, Ivan, since I have you, one final question. You know when it comes to these different ships, do we know where these ships that had been in the international waters -- do we know -- I think that the last check was that they were headed to that Israeli port city of Ashdod.

What happens to the people on board those ships? How do they get home?

WATSON: That's a big question. And the Turks, for instance, are demanding that all of their citizens be repatriated safely. The Israelis have said that they are going to search the passengers. They're going to search the supplies to make sure there are no weapons there.

But as the spokesman for the Israeli embassy here in Turkey put it, this crisis is far from over. How are those people are going to be dealt with, how they are going to be behave is a big question that we're all going to be dealing with in the hours ahead -- Brooke. BALDWIN: Ivan, this is a fast-moving story. As soon as you get more information from your end there in Istanbul, do me a favor and pass it along.

Ivan, thank you.

And we mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- he was scheduled to meet with President Obama in Washington tomorrow. The subject, the Middle East peace process. And now, as you can imagine, there are some reports from Jerusalem, that trip may be delayed.

We're staying atop any developments there. Meantime White House deputy press secretary, Bill Burton, has released this statement saying, quote, "The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."

Also oil spill. Day 42 of this oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Still there is no end in sight for this crisis.

Right now take a look with me. Work under water and under way to place a custom built dome over that ruptured well. Remember that effort top kill we've been keeping our eye on for the last couple of days, well, that effort to plug the leak now under way as we learn over the weekend that the top kill has failed.

It could be several more days before we know definitively if this new capping method will work. And even it does -- listen to this. Even if it does, BP will only be able to collect, they say, most -- not all -- of the oil that is gushing out.

Now BP has long conceded that the only permanent solution is to drill a relief well that will choke off the flow. But that work cannot be completed before August.

Want to get a closer look now as to that effort underway. Placing this dome, this custom-fit cap as what they're saying over that leaking well, and CNN's Josh Levs is here with some great animation to help kind of walk us through this LMRP cap, right, Josh?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's the latest step in the complicated lexicon of this crisis. And in order to understand what BP is doing next, we've got some pictures to help you.

I want to go first to this video. It's an animation because when you look at the animation, it gives you the basic idea here. You're looking at a section of the blowout preventer. That's the lower marine riser. And it's the lower marine rise package, you need to cap it off, right?

And we watch what happens in this picture. You have all this oil gushing out. And they're creating a cap that's going to come on, they hope, and be able to be placed right on top of it.

Now looked well and good, it looks pretty. Here's the problem. It doesn't look like that right now. There isn't a little stub that you can just put a cap on top of. And that's where we're going to come to these images right here. We can close in. These are images that come from BP.

And what needs to happen, this right here is the blowout preventer. And what you have right here is basically this pipe, it was originally going up now as part of -- the whole falling apart. The explosion, it's over like this.

What you need to have are these little tiny remote-operated vehicles. Make it cut. So let's zoom way in here. I want you to see what this is going to look like. You have these little remote- operated vehicles and they're going to make a cut right along there. Now that's the first one. These are little hydraulic shears will have to make a cut.

Then come over here with me. Then you have this other remote- operated vehicles, this one has a diamond wire cutters. It's going to have to make a second cut in order to get rid of all of that.

And then, if all that works as they want it to, then you get this. I want to make it nice and big. Then what you will get ultimately is a stub right here and then a cap that can come down and plug it up.

But think about what I just showed you. We're basically talking about underwater surgery at this point. We're talking about the complicated task of going 5,000 feet under water, removing incredibly specifically exactly what you need to so that the cap can even fit on top of that stub.

With that in mind, let's go back to the animation. I want you to see it again. Because now what you're going to notice when you look at the animation BP is providing is that at the beginning of all of this, you're looking at that lower marine riser package. Then you come up and you see these two pieces disappear.

So this is the initial problem, the initial challenge that's so hard. And in the process of doing that, BP is saying that it's going to increase the amount of oil that's flowing out. They're saying 20 percent more will flow out in that time. We'll see how that works.

So that right there is the challenge that we're dealing with at this point, Brooke. It's putting that cap on top of the lower marine riser package.

There's one more thing to know about it. As it's there, it's also not only going to be directly that oil, it's also going to be pumping in something called methanol. And the reason is what went wrong in the past.

Let's go back to that containment dome. A weeks ago, you all probably having deja vu right now. You're saying didn't they try to put a dome on top of this already? Well, they did several weeks ago. They put that containment dome. They tried. And what happened was, water got in and mixed with the gas and then created these ice-like hydrate crystals.

So it never worked out. So this new cap that they're putting on in addition to guiding out the oil is supposed to also guide in some methanol to prevent crystals from forming. So basically what you hear when I talk to you about all this, a whole lot of variables, a whole of questions.

They say it could be four to seven days before they can really begin the process of doing this. Then lots of fingers crossed to see if that cap works out. And even if it does, it's not a 100 percent seal. It's hoping -- as Brooke was just saying, it's hoping to get most of the oil contained. Then they're still the larger challenges in the future.

So, Brooke, that's where we are right now, this massive underwater surgery that's going to be taking place 5,000 feet under to try to get that lower marine riser cap to control the oil at last.

BALDWIN: Right. And as you've said, they're saying maybe 20 percent extra flow, you know, of the oil once they cut that riser. That's a whole other variable. We are hoping it works but really it seems like August with those relief wells. The final perhaps definitive closure to all of this.

LEVS: And let's hope that we can get the wells up by August.

BALDWIN: Let's hope we can.

LEVS: This is what they're saying. Yes. Fingers crossed on that one, too.

BALDWIN: All right, Josh Levs, great explainer.

LEVS: OK.

BALDWIN: I thank you.

LEVS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And you know we talk a lot about the mechanics of this LMRP and this cap but really a whole other piece of the story is the public outrage. Right? You have in New Orleans, in fact, the French Quarter, hundreds of protesters gathering for the largest demonstration yet. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: BP needs to be held accountable. America needs to stop treating Louisiana as the stepchildren of the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So if you drill, baby, drill, you're going to spill, baby, spill, and then you will kill, baby, kill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It needs to stop now. Now. No excuses.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: People along the gulf are demanding that BP ratchet up its response and mobilize every possible resources to stop this leak. But they're also asking, you know, folks like you and I to help by buying the region's sea food and supporting its beleaguered tourism industry.

And let's talk also about those chemicals that BP is using. You know, it's actually banned in other countries. So why are chemicals that are prohibited in other countries allowed to be used in everyday products here in America?

Watch "TOXIC AMERICA." It's this two-night special investigation with our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta. It's Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

And again, let's not forget, today, Memorial Day. Of course President Obama marking this Memorial Day by laying a wreath and giving a speech at the Abraham Lincoln Cemetery that is in Elwood, Illinois.

The ceremony takes place a couple hours from now. The first family then returns to the White House after their holiday weekend in Chicago.

And live pictures at the beautiful Arlington National Cemetery there. Next hour, Vice President Biden will be there for that wreath- laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

About 5,000 people are expected to attend. Of course we will bring you that ceremony and the vice president's remarks live here on CNN.

And troops from the 410 Calvary Regimen out of Fort Carson, Colorado based at the contingency operating base Adder in southern Iraq and some of them told us what it means to them to serve on this Memorial Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important for me to be serving on Memorial Day because to me it means as long as I serve, there is a future for our country. We'll keep that service alive and the ability for us to serve in the future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This means a lot for me to be serving just like my dad and my grandpa did. And protecting family and friends back home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me to serve here on Memorial Day means a lot to me because my mother and my father were also in the military. And the opportunity to serve my country to me is -- to me is the highest thing that I can do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. This is Fourth Squadron, 10th Calvary located in Kabul, Iraq saying hi to all our friends and family back at Fort Carson, Colorado. Ready, forward.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Six thousand troops from more than 20 countries all killed in the line of duty.

Coming up tonight, our John King sits down for this in-depth interview with General George Casey about the wars both in Iraq and Afghanistan, Memorial Day and his own experience with loss.

That is tonight, 7:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.

And make sure you log on at CNN.com/homeandaway. You can read and also pay tribute to those who've fallen in the line of duty. It's really amazing what we've created here on this Web site. This is this interactive map really that's like no other that is sure to hit home on this Memorial Day and really any day of the year.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano with CNN's Severe Weather Center. Memorial Day parades and services, many of them outside. So we'll have that forecast. Plus we'll talk about Agatha and what's left of her and where she may be going next. Stay tuned. Weather is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: More than 80 people are dead after the first named tropical storm of the season slammed Latin America over this past weekend. Take a look at this picture. This deluge really. This is tropical storm Agatha. This is the mess it dumped on El Salvador.

Most of the dead were in Guatemala where the heavy rains triggered mudslides, caused thousands of evacuations there.

Meantime, for us here, rain could threaten a couple of picnics, cookouts this Memorial Day.

Mr. Rob Marciano, looking forward to a little cookout of my own.

MARCIANO: Yes.

BALDWIN: Tough I hear it's raining outside. I haven't seen it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

BALDWIN: I like that. Tickle your toenails.

MARCIANO: Or turn them blue.

BALDWIN: Or turn blue.

MARCIANO: Yes. Not exactly comfortable.

BALDWIN: Yes. All right.

MARCIANO: Give it a couple of weeks.

BALDWIN: Rob, thanks.

MARCIANO: OK. See you.

BALDWIN: A couple more weeks, the beach should be perfect.

Did you watch this yesterday? A spectacular scary crash, a take that was almost empty. Ashley Judd, pictures of her nervously looking on. I'm talking about the Indy 500 had it all this year. Pictures coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Yes, these guys driving 55 when they're idling. Look at these pictures with me. This is the dramatic photo finish, if you will, to the Indy 500. A crash like that kind of like something out of a video game. Only this is real.

Driver, Mike Conway, came out of this -- get this -- with just a broken leg. Dario Franchitti managed to avoid the mess. He got his second Indy win. He got to the finish line, by the way, with less than two gallons of fuel in his tank.

Dan Wheldon finished second. Alex Lloyd third.

CNN NEWSROOM -- ouch -- back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And of course, on this Memorial Day, we are keeping a close eye on the events unfolding there at the beautiful Arlington National Cemetery. My own grandfather is buried there. Perhaps someone from your own family is there as well. I want to let you know that the Vice President, Joe Biden, himself, will be there taking part in that ceremonial wreath-laying ceremony. That is at the tomb of the unknown. As soon as we start seeing that, we will bring that to you live from Arlington National Cemetery.

In the meantime, Memorial Day observance is really taking on special meaning for America's men and women who are currently answering the call of military service. And CNN's Frederik Pleitgen is live for us this morning in Nassiriya, Iraq for a very special ceremony on tap.

Frederik, before we even talk about that ceremony, for people who are watching this, it's not often we have this presence in Southern Iraq, and if you will, just explain to people really the significance of Nassiriya as of the focal point really for the drawdown?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's very important, Brooke. This is contingency operating base uttering (ph). What's going to be happening here in the next couple of months is that this is going to be the logistical focal point for the drawdown that's going to be happening here in Iraq. You're going to have a lot of convoys going here better than going to go further down into Kuwait to be shipped back to America, some of them, of course, the Afghanistan.

A lot of soldiers are going to be going over and through here as well, but, of course, Memorial Day is very special here on this base. I just want to get out of your way here for a second to show you this very remarkable ceremony that's happening here behind me. This is called a silence sanctuary.

What they're doing here is they are reading the names of all the U.S. service members who lost their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, more than 5,000 names that are going to be read here. They've been at this for more than 10.5 hours now.

I have one soldier who's with me. This is Lieutenant Benjamin Dalton. Tell me, first of all, what unit you're from and where you from?

LT. BENJAMIN DALTON, U.S. ARMY: I'm from Fourth Squadron state Cavalry Regiment (INAUDIBLE) Fort. Carson, Colorado.

PLEITGEN: This is, of course, a very special day for anyone serving here in this country. What does Memorial Day in serving on Memorial Day mean to you?

DALTON: Memorial Day is a big part of our family. My brother and I Andrew Thomas (ph), we've been -- we are the fourth generation of our family to serve in the army. So, we carry on the privilege of serving in the army for those who have come before us, it is great honor to us.

PLEITGEN: You say this is your second deployment to Iraq?

DALTON: Yes.

PLEITGEN: The first time was 2007-2008. How have things changed here since then because it is quite a different situation?

DALTON: Yes, it has. Before, we were partner with the Iraqi security forces and the U.S. (INAUDIBLE) throughout Baghdad. At this time, we are in strictly an advisory mode. We're helping them out. And we're just helping them to create success here in Iraq.

PLEITGEN: Does it make you proud? Because, I mean, in 2007- 2008, the going was really tough here. And now, you are in a position where your (ph) army can withdraw. How do you feel?

DALTON: Yes, it's a great opportunity for them to lead and to be in charge to see them take strides like this is very good for us and for them and their families as well to keep them safe here in Iraq.

PLEITGEN: One of the things that a lot of people back home believe, is that the Iraq war is coming to an end, that there is less and less to do here, but you guys are still working a lot every day.

DALTON: Yes, we continue to advise these forces (ph) until our job here is done.

PLEITGEN: And what are some of the things that you do?

DALTON: Right now, we're coordinating and working with the special teams. We still work with the Iraqi security forces here in Southern Iraq as well as the director board enforcement on the border between Iraq and Kuwait and Iran.

PLEITGEN: And has Memorial Day weekend been easier for you or is it just another working weekend? Do you have any events? What's been going on?

DALTON: We worked with some of the NCOs in our great squadron. We put on (INAUDIBLE) for them. We still continue to work though 24/7 until the job is done.

PLEITGEN: Is there anyone at home you want to say hello to?

DALTON: I want to say hi to my family and my niece and nephew, Lane and Liam and all my brothers, Andrew, Thomas and Stone. Thank you.

PLEITGEN: Thank you very much for your service, sir.

DALTON: Thank you.

PLEITGEN: And, Brooke, as you can see, there's still a lot going on. This is one of the bases really where as the Iraq drawdown happens, this base is actually being scaled up. There's a lot of construction going on here, a lot of construction crews at work, and certainly, a lot of soldiers are going to be going through these bases. This is going to be a very, very busy place in the next couple of months as we see the U.S. presence here gradually drawdown in this country -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. And hey, Frederik, I'm glad you did that. So, I was going to ask you to get Lieutenant Dalton just to give a quick shout out to his mom. So, thank you for that, and if there's more going on with that ceremony, we may check back in with you and join you live.

Frederik Pleitgen for us in Nassiriya. Thank you, Fred.

And a very special Memorial Day delivery in Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan where troops unveiled a steal cross beam. Here it is. This is from one of the fallen towers of the World Trade Center, and you can take a look at the raves (ph) description. It bears the date of the deadly terrorist attack, there it is, 9/11. For many of the hundreds of soldiers attending, today's ceremony resonated deeply.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of come full circle for me. Many of the men in my unit because I am from the coast guard in New York. Many of the men in my unit are port authority police officers. One of them gave me a ground zero American flag that I've brought with me to fly here over Afghanistan, and I'm going to be sending it at the base of that beam a little bit later. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have family that live in New York. I had a cousin that worked in the World Trade Center. Thank god, She wasn't there that day of the attack, but this is my way of giving back to make sure it doesn't happen again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And when we think of paying respects to the grave site, we think of, perhaps, saying a prayer or perhaps laying flowers, but at one very special section of Arlington National Cemetery, we'll find some very personal mementos left by comrades of the fallen. CNN's Barbara Starr is there at Arlington National Cemetery. Barbara, I imagine you're talking about section 60?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Brooke. We are here at section 60 this morning at Arlington National Cemetery where hundreds of troops who have fallen on the battlefield of Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest, and their history is being preserved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): Here at Arlington National Cemetery, section 60, a tradition of not just paying respect but leaving something to honor those who have fallen on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. For years, flowers, photos, letters, teddy bears, all kinds of remembrances have been left. Army curator, Roderick Gainer, is here on a labor of love in a place full of grief.

Tell me about section 60.

RODERICK GAINER, ARMY CURATOR: This is where many of the casualties in the current military operations are buried. So, you can see sort of the real cost of war when you're here.

STARR: For the first time, the army is gathering up and preserving mementos.

You're really recording the history of this place and these people?

GAINER: Yes, very much.

STARR: Gainer and volunteers recorded bag some very personal remembrances.

GAINER: We actually recovered letter saying, you know, I was lucky I got out of here, you know, don't think about trouble times. We are going by grave to grave on a weekly basis recovering items that have been left here. And we, basically, these items into a database and photograph the grave.

STARR: You see an awful lot of personal things left here.

GAINER: Yes.

STARR: Very personal.

GAINER: Very personal things. I've seen everything from report cards to an Alabama football ticket stub from crimson tide. Obviously, the sea (ph) service person was a tide fan. Letters. Hotel keys I've seen. Many jewelry, lots of things.

STARR: Let's look at some of the things that you're going to be collecting here now.

GAINER: We mentioned the bracelet before, Sergeant David Cristoff. It was his sort of remembrance bracelet. obviously. The name of this soldier. And here appears to be a letter. Here you have the grave of Shane Adcock. You can clearly see a bronze star has been left on here. His birth date was May 24th which was a few days ago, so things were left here for his birthday. We will gather these items because it's after his birthday.

STARR: There is also a letter.

It looks like it says, happy birthday, bro. Stay safe. And I'll see you on the higher ground.

GAINER: Yes. And Shane, thanks for looking over me. I love and miss you. We'll meet you again in heaven. Sure snap.

STARR: Buddies who came by one last time. And you'll personally take that.

GAINER: Yes, we'll take all of these items.

STARR: Ok.

On some graves, we now see photographs have been permanently attached.

GAINER: Yes, you see several places around here.

STARR: What's your sense of why families are doing this, trying to affix somewhat of a permanence to this?

GAINER: Remembrance. I mean, nothing says remembrance like a face. You know, when you read Justin Ray Davis, private first class of the United States army, born 1987, and died at 2006, this really drives that home.

STARR: There is a face here. This is a person.

GAINER: Young man, 19 years old.

STARR: The army isn't sure yet what it will do with everything it's collecting, but one thing is certain, families and friends will come every Memorial Day, and young men will stand at attention for those who didn't make it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR (on-camera): And Brooke, we wanted to keep ourselves out of the picture and just show the viewers this morning at section 60, parents, family, friends, young children, all here to pay their respects to the fallen on Memorial Day 2010 -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Walking through Arlington, it just gives you goose bumps of gratitude. Barbara Starr, excellent, excellent report. Thank you.

And 6,000 troops here from more than 20 countries, all killed in the line of duty. Tonight, you won't want to miss this. John King sits down for this in-depth interview with General George Casey about both wars in Iraq, Afghanistan. He's talking about Memorial Day, in fact, even his own experience with loss. That is at 7:00 p.m. eastern tonight here on CNN.

And also, have you visited this yet? If you go to CNN.com/homeandaway, you can read and pay tribute to those who fallen in the line of duty. There are interactive maps, both Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S. I've never seen anything like this. It is sure to hit home for you on this Memorial Day or really any day of the year.

From the 410 Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Carson, Colorado now based on Southern Iraq and some of them wanted to tell us what it means to them to serve on this Memorial Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important for me to be serving on Memorial Day because, to me, it means, as long as I serve, there's a future for our country. We will keep that service alive and the ability for us to serve in the future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It means a lot for me to be here serving just like my dad and my grandpa did protecting family and friends back home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, to serve here on Memorial Day means a lot to me, because my mother and my father were also in the military. The opportunity to serve my country to me is the highest thing I can do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, this is the Fourth Squadron state Calvary located at Iraq saying hi to our all our friends and family back at Fort Carson, Colorado. Ready, forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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BALDWIN: Well, here is an image we can expect to see a whole lot more of as this oil continues to come closer to shore. These are birds that were caught up in that toxic stew that stretches -- you know it -- from hundreds of miles right along the Gulf of Mexico. They are rescued off the Coast of Louisiana. They were taken to a wildlife refuge in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were cleaned, they were nursed back to health. There they go, hobbling, flying back into the water back into the wild just yesterday.

Now, the White House says the oil spill is probably the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. And the proof really will be the massive toll suffered by the wildlife. So what's being done now, as experts fear the worst, is yet to come.

CNN's Reynolds Wolf takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As we bring it in, immediately we take oil samples. And this guy was really junked up with oil pretty bad.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): This rescued turtle is a Kemp's Ridley, one of the smallest sea turtles in the world. It's also on the endangered species list.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This guy had some oil in his mouth; it was actually swabbed out. We were getting the oil, that (INAUDIBLE) stuff was just removing the oil from his mouth.

WOLF: This turtle and two others were rescued and brought to the Audubon Nature Institute here in New Orleans for rehabilitation and long-term monitoring.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're once exposed to the oil, it starts to compromise their important systems, respiratory, digestive, kidneys so it can set them for secondary infection such as pneumonia.

WOLF: And it's not just reptiles that are threatened by the oil. State biologist, Mike Brainard (ph), worries about marine mammals he sees just off the Mississippi Coast.

(on camera): Now, where exactly are we headed, specifically?

MIKE BRAINARD, STATE BIOLOGIST: We're going into (INAUDIBLE) our station three which is in the Biloxi Channel.

WOLF: I see.

(voice-over): Dolphins often follow Brainard's shrimp trawlers as we saw firsthand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, and the other day we were out we had dolphins following our trawl. There was like four of them, with one of them is a little baby. Then it made me sick and it was like man, I hope that oil doesn't get here.

WOLF: The oil has not yet drifted into the Mississippi waters. But 25 mammals have been found dead in the Gulf. The exact cause of these deaths has yet to be determined. Over 220 turtles have been found dead, making this one, one of the fortunate survivors. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Reynolds Wolf joining me now from New Orleans. Reynolds, we see these pictures and these are the pictures of the turtles, the dolphins, the pelicans that really resonate, don't they?

WOLF: Absolutely, they really do. You personally Brooke, have seen some of these animals like out near the -- the Chandelier Islands not far from our present location here in New Orleans. I mean, these are -- these estuaries, these islands they are so important to the eco-system out here.

Not only are they a nesting place for some of the brown pelicans, but of course you have turtles that are around these islands also. Even some of the marshes that are so sensitive in the southeastern corner of the state as they're trying to protect them.

Some of them have already been inundated by the heavy oil. They are almost like nurseries, so to speak. Not just for birds, not just for turtles but also for very small fish, even small sharks call the marshes home.

And then when you get the oil that inundates it, the marsh is almost like a giant sponge. It pulls it in, kills the root system. The grass has died and then the marsh land ceases to exist, never to return again.

So, it really is a crucial thing; it is hard to see the impact this oil is happening. Not just on the landscape, but of course, and the animals.

We did a flyover and I had no idea there were so many dolphins. In fact, it is the biggest dolphin habitat along the gulf. What about -- let's talk about those turtles Reynolds. When might the turtles be released back into the wild?

That's a great question. There is a chance they might not be released back into the wild. There are three of them here in New Orleans. We have two of the Kemp's Ridley turtles; those were the beautiful turtles that you saw on the piece there that dark are the dark greenish color tinted with a little bit of white along the sides. They're just spectacular animals.

The other one also equally spectacular but a little bit bigger; it's a loggerhead, those might be released a little bit more to the east or west, far away from that oil slick. There is a chance they may just keep them in the aquarium because these turtles have a tendency to return to their favorite hunting grounds.

Unfortunately some of these hunting grounds are right where you have much of the oil or some of the oil that's well below the surface from the plumes. So until they have a good handle on the situation, what's happening out there in the Gulf, most of the turtles are going to stay here. Back to you Brooke.

WOLFE: They are beautiful animals, aren't they? Reynolds Wolf in New Orleans. Reynolds, good to see you. Thank you.

And you know, we talked about this oil spill, right; we talked about the dispersants. One of the chemicals BP is using is actually banned in other countries. Here's the question we want answered. Why are chemicals that are prohibited in other countries allowed to be used in everyday products right here in America?

Watch "Toxic America" a two-night special. It's this investigation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. You can watch it Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

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BALDWIN: If only this classic rock could talk it might tell us how the solar system got its start. Experts think this meteorite is just a tad old -- try 4.5 billion years. To call it antique doesn't quite do it justice, does it? But this Oregon Man found it 11 years ago on the side of the road. He just recently decided he would let scientists take a look. They claim it is a little gift from the asteroid belt. How about that?

Oh well. It is already a busy hour in the CNN NEWSROOM. I want to begin with White House correspondent Dan Lothian live in Elwood, Illinois. Dan, good morning.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Just at a time when the administration is trying to push forward with the Mid-East when they are pushing on the peace process, now they're having to respond to the Israel-Gaza situation. I'll have the story at the top of the hour.

LEVS: The next step BP is taking. What it could actually achieve and exactly how it works. I'm Josh Levs, I'm going to have that for you at the top of the hour.

MARCIANO: I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. It is Memorial Day, that means parades, services, outdoor barbecues. We'll have the forecast plus talk about what's left of Agatha, the first pacific tropical storm of the season. That's coming up in the top of the hour -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Gentlemen thank you. Also next hour, a brother and sister going through their late father's things find a bit of a buried treasure, a poem he wrote about his World War II experience. Now you could say could they know their dad in a whole new way. Stay right there.

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