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Obama to Name Joint Chiefs Chairman, Obama at Arlington National Cemetery; 450 Flights were Canceled at O'Hare; Meeting the Voters on Memorial Day; Palin Bus Tour; Prediction: $5 Gas by Summer; Veterans Face Challenges at Home; Sean Kingston Hurt on Jet Ski; Lockheed Martin Hit by Cyber Attack; Hackers Hit PBS, Post Fake Tupac Story; Jim Tressel Resigns

Aired May 30, 2011 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you on this Memorial Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO (voice-over): A changing of the guard atop the nation's military command, just minutes from now, President Obama is expected to nominate Martin Dempsey as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

And then the president will head to Arlington National Cemetery to honor the nation's war dead. He will take part in ceremonies there, including laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns.

Some storms in the Midwest created some big problems for holiday travelers. In Chicago, more than 450 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The GOP race for the White House is heating up on this unofficial start of summer. One candidate who has declared and two who have not are reaching out to voters this Memorial Day.

Tim Pawlenty already in the fold visits Iowa, the first caucus state on the primary calendar. Two potential candidates, Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin also out on the road today.

Bachmann is in New Hampshire and Palin will heading to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Palin actually revved up for a possible run riding into Washington on the back of a motorcycle -

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: -- for yesterday's "Rolling Thunder" event. CNN's Jim Acosta is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: -- where Palin's bus tour will pull in later today so any sign of her bus yet, Jim? JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not just yet, Carol. She was at the National Archives earlier this morning. One of our CNN crews was there, apparently at the National Archives where you can view the constitution and other historic documents.

Somebody yelled you should run and she said, well, I'm going to keep fighting so sort of a non-answer-answer. They were all reading the tea leaves on this Memorial Day trying to figure out, as a lot of other Republicans are doing right now, trying to figure out what Sarah Palin is up to.

And what we can tell you is that she is on sort of this campaign style bus tour up the East Coast. It started in Washington yesterday as she rolled across the Potomac River on the back of a Harley Davidson along with the "Rolling Thunder" motorcycle rally that was going on to honor and remember POWs and soldiers who are missing in action.

And our CNN Sandra Endo had a chance to catch up with the former Alaska governor for just a brief couple of moments yesterday where she asked her, what are you up to? Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: The bus tour is to get out there and remind Americans about our foundation, our independence and constitution and the historical sites.

That should be a reminder every day to every American about how important it is to stand strong on our foundation and build upon it. That's what made us the greatest country on earth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, later in the day, she also had lunch, we understand, with some patients from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Those are some wounded soldiers just back from being in action. And one of the various conflicts around the country -- around the world, I should say.

And then later on in the evening, according to her political action committee web site, Sarah Palin and her family toured the monuments as she put it, incognito. Sort of dressed very casually to get a sense of what things look like on the national from the perspective at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

But all of this goes to show you and obviously all this media attention goes to show you, Carol, that if she is getting into this race, she sure knows how to make an entrance, Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, she does because that's all we're talking about. That's for sure. Jim Acosta live in Gettysburg, thank you.

If you've been enjoying the recent slide in gas prices, buckle up for some bad news. Wall Street icon Goldman Sachs is predicting that Americans will see prices rise to 5 bucks a gallon this summer.

Although we've heard that before, haven't we, and it didn't happen? Right now, the national average stands at $3.79 a gallon. That's according to AAA. That's more than a dollar higher than at this time last year.

Alison Kosik is in New York. So Alison, why is Goldman Sachs predicting this?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, becoming -- will it go to $5 or won't it, right? Well, now with Goldman Sachs coming out and saying these prices are going to rise because global demand for oil is expected to grow.

And what's happened is several new forecasts have come out over the past few days. Goldman Sachs is saying oil is expected to hit 120 bucks by year's end and Morgan Stanley saying 120. J.P. Morgan Chase saying 130, but there's an important note here to tell you about.

They're talking about Brent crude. This is the European benchmark. That's sitting at $114 now a barrel right now. Still though, it means U.S. consumers will still see those higher prices at the pump.

Gas prices, they're directly tied to the price of crude oil, which is sitting at $100 a barrel. Those prices usually lag about two weeks before we see them hit the gas pumps. Carol --

COSTELLO: I'm just curious about something. If somebody out there predicts that gas is going to be like 5 bucks a gallon by summer, is that like a self-fulfilling prophecy? Does that push prices up artificially?

KOSIK: You know what, it does. Yes, critics say, you know, these bullish notes that we're hearing, they really help to bring in those speculators that I know you love, Carol.

Because if Wall Street says prices are going to rise, it attracts investors who want to get in on the low end and make money. The big Wall Street firms that issue these forecasts, they stand to make a bundle that is for sure.

And putting out forecasts like these by the way is legal. It's done all the time. Analysts say get used to it. We're probably going to see more and more of these forecasts because the economic situation that we're in it's changing so much.

So expect to get these at least once a month, Carol. One final note here, not everybody agrees that these prices are going to rise. Some analysts are even saying that gas prices will continue to drop over the next few weeks. You know, who knows in some say yes. Some say no. We're stuck paying for it.

COSTELLO: I know because we have no choice in the matter. Thank you very much. Alison Kosik live in New York. President Obama is just about to announce the new Department of Defense -- actually, let's listen in and see what he has to say.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Good morning. In a few moments I'll be joining members of the Armed Forces and their families and veterans for the Memorial Day observance at Arlington.

There and across our nation, we'll pause to honor all those who have given their last full measure of devotion in defense of our country. Theirs was the ultimate sacrifice, but it is one that every man and woman who wears America's uniform is prepared to make so that we can live free.

The men and women of our Armed Forces are the best our nation has to offer, and they deserve nothing but the absolute best in return. And that includes leaders who will guide them and support their families with wisdom and strength and compassion. That's what I expect as commander in chief as we work to keep our nation secure and our military the finest in the world.

I found those qualities in Leon Panetta, who I announced last month as my choice to succeed our outstanding Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, who I thank for joining us today. And I found these qualities in leaders who will complete our team at the Pentagon and whom I'm proud to announce today.

General Martin Dempsey as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral James Winifeld as the vice chairman and to succeed General Dempsey as Chief of Staff of the Army, General Ray Odierno. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to me and my national security team, including the secretary of defense.

Since taking office, I've been very grateful for the leadership of the current chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen, and the vice chairman, General Jim Cartwright. These two men have served our nation with distinction for decades, and I look forward to paying tribute to their lives of service in the months ahead.

Today I will simply say that like President Bush before me, I deeply valued Mike's professional steadiness and his personal integrity. On his watch, our military forces have excelled across the whole spectrum of missions, from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake.

He's helped revitalize NATO, reset our relations with Russia, and steer our relationship with Pakistan and China. And I believe that history will also record Mike Mullen as the chairman who said what he believed was right and declared that no one in uniform should ever have to sacrifice their integrity to serve their country.

I've also benefited enormously from the advice and counsel of Cartwright. Haas is that rare combination of technical expert from cyber to missile defense and strategic thinker. Whether it was updating our nuclear posture or preparing our military for 21st Century missions. I'll always be personally grateful to him for his friendship and partnership.

And as he concludes four decades of service in the Marine Corps that he loves, he can do so knowing that our nation is more secure and our military is stronger because of his remarkable career. And I know that Michelle joins me in saluting Deborah Mullen, Sandy Cartwright for their decades of extraordinary service, especially as champions of our inspiring military families.

With the advice and consent of the Senate, it is our hope and expectation that Leon Panetta will soon take the reigns as secretary of defense. General Cartwright's term ends this summer. Admiral Mullen's term ends this fall.

I am announcing my choice for their successors today because it's essential that this transition be seamless and that we stay focused on the national security challenges before us. I want to thank the Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn for the continuity that he will provide during this transition.

With nearly 40 years in uniform, Martin Dempsey is one of our nation's most respected and combat tested generals. In Iraq, he led our soldiers the brutal insurgency. Having trained Iraqi forces, he knows the nations must ultimately take responsibility for their own security.

Having served as acting commander of Central Command, he understands in Iraq and Afghanistan security gains and political progress must go hand in hand. Just as he challenged the Army to embrace new doctrine and tactics, I expect him to push all our forces to continue adapting and innovating to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow.

I was proud to nominate Marty as Army Chief of Staff. I realized he only assumed that position last month. Marty, your tenure as chief may go down as one of the shortest in Army history, but it's your lifetime of accomplishment that brings us here today.

And I thank you for your willingness to take on this new assignment along with your wife, Dini and your three children, all of whom have served in the Army. Today, I want every one of our men and women in uniform to hear the words that you spoke to your soldiers on your first day as chief. Because it's our shared message to all who serve, especially our troops in harm's way.

We will provide whatever it takes to chief our objectives in the current fight. As Vice Chairman Admiral Winifeld will draw on 30 years of distinguished service. Under his command fighters from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise pounded Taliban positions in the weeks after 9/11 and carried a strike group played a critical role in air operations over Iraq.

Having served as a NATO commander, Sandy is well-known to our allies. Having served on the Joint Staff, he is known and trusted here at the White House. Most recently as head of Northern Command, Sandy has been responsible for the defense of our homeland and support to states and communities in times of crisis, such as the recent tornados and the floods along the Mississippi.

He supported our Mexican partners and their fight against the cartels and our Japanese allies in response to their nuclear emergency. So Sandy knows that we have to be prepared for the full range of challenges. Sandy, I thank you and your wife, Mary and your two sons for your continued service.

I selected General Dempsey and Admiral Winifeld because of their record and potential as individuals, but I've also selected them because they will make an extraordinary team despite their competing loyalties to Army and Navy. Between them they bring deep experience in virtually every domain, land, air, space, sea, cyber.

Both of them have the respect and trust of our troops on the front lines, our friends in Congress and allies and partners abroad. Both of them have my full confidence. They both have something else. For the first time the chairman and vice chairman will have the experience of leading combat operations in the years since 9/11.

Two moments in particular speak to this leadership. On the morning of September 11, 2001, the "Enterprise" was returning home from the Persian Gulf when word came of the attacks. Rather than wait for orders, Sandy took the initiative, reversed course and put his ship in range of Afghanistan by the next morning, setting the stage for the strikes that followed.

A few years later, as Marty's first armored division was rotating out of Iraq, he suddenly got new orders. He turned his division around, shifted to new parts of Iraq, and defeated an insurgent uprising, a remarkable maneuver that has entered the anals of Army history.

While I know that folks across the Army are proud to see one of their own selected as chairman, I also know this means losing their new chief in a time of war. And that's why for the next Army chief of staff, I'm nominating one of the most accomplished soldiers and one of the tallest, General Ray Odierno.

In three pivotal deployments to Iraq, he commanded the troops that captured Saddam Hussein, partnered with General Petraus to help bring down the violence and then transferred responsibility to Iraqi forces allowing us to remove some 100,000 American troops and end our combat mission.

After years on the front lines, Ray understands what the Army must do to prevail in today's wars, to prepare for the future, and to preserve the readiness of the soldiers and families who are the strength of America's families. We're fortunate that Ray's dedication is shared by his wife, Linda and their family, including their son, Tony, a combat veteran and advocate for his fellow wounded warriors.

I urge our friends in the Senate to confirm these outstanding individuals as swiftly as possible. They're innovative, flexible, focused on the future and deeply devoted to their troops and families. General Dempsey, Admiral Winifeld we have much to do.

From bringing our troops home from Iraq to beginning to reduce our forces in Afghanistan this summer and transitioning to Afghan lead. From defeating al Qaeda to protecting the Libyan people. All this even as we make difficult budget decisions while keeping our military the finest fighting force in the world.

Above all, as commander in chief I'll be looking to you and the rest of the Joint Chiefs for what I value most in my advisers, your honest, unvarnished advice and the full range of options, especially when it comes to our most solemn obligation, protecting the lives of our brave men and women in uniform.

We have no greater responsibility as we are reminded today when we honor all those who sacrificed so we can enjoy the blessings of freedom. So, again, to Marty, Sandy, and Ray as well as your families, thank you for your patriotic service and readiness to lead once more. Thank you very much, everybody.

COSTELLO: And with that, we'll step away. Perhaps the most important nomination this morning from President Obama is General Martin Dempsey who will chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Of course, all three nominations still has to be confirmed by the Senate.

As we honor our war dead on this Memorial Day, we want to look at what our veterans are coming home to. It's not good, high unemployment, brain trauma injuries and more. We'll take a closer look and tell you what you can do. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: As we honor our war dead on this Memorial Day, we want to take a look actually at what our veterans are coming home to. Those still alive, those still serving and coming home to what, well, unemployment is one big problem.

It's about two points higher than the national average. For veterans between the ages of 18 and 24, the jobless rate is more than 20 percent. The veterans are also dealing with homelessness. About one in 20 people living on the street are in shelters who served our country.

They're dealing with the spike in post-traumatic stress disorder and in traumatic brain injuries and suicides become a growing problem, 156 troops commit a suicide last year. Here's what the head of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee said about their plights.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR PATTY MURRAY (D), CHAIRMAN, VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: If we don't make sure that help those men and women who are coming home today get a job, help with their physical and mental injuries, get through the benefits claim process, 20 years from now our country will have on its conscience, a high number of veterans we lost because of suicide, homeless on the streets and who have been lost. And I don't want to see that happen. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Let's talk to CNN's Chris Lawrence. He's our Pentagon correspondent. He is live at Arlington National Cemetery. Chris, we honor our war dead on this Memorial Day.

And we do honor our veterans, but some might say we kind of forget about them after we see that beautiful homecoming. You know, and then what happens to these veterans?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, I mean, if you go around the country and you talk to a lot of the veterans like we have, you find out a lot of them are struggling to find work, are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

For many veterans it's a very tough transition back home. Even though for those with very loving and supportive families, you know, the economy hasn't made things any better. While it's not terribly out of whack when you look at certain unemployment statistics for vets and for, you know, nonveterans, the fact that a lot of companies aren't really going out of their way to higher veterans I think is the big issue for a lot of groups.

They feel like it's going to be tougher for a lot of these people to transition back if the companies don't really take a proactive step to get them back into the job market quickly. Of course, today is about honoring and remembering those, you know, who have fallen in battle.

Most of the area here in Section 6 or some of it at least is dedicated to those who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. This may help put it in perspective. A lot of experts say for every soldier, marine, sailor, airman who dies in battle, it will affect about 10 Americans, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, kids, grandparents.

So they estimate maybe over 60,000 people have been affected by the deaths and although you come out here -- and it can be a little overwhelming because just the sheer size of this. When you get down and start to see the individual stories, like the family right over there who we spent a lot of the morning talking with.

Listen to this and you can hear, you know, she really puts it in great perspective what it means each one of these graves.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICKI BUNTING, WIDOW OF FALLEN SERVICEMAN: I want everyone to realize these aren't just graves. They aren't just numbers. They're real people. They have real families. They had wives and husbands and children and parents and siblings and friends.

And so that's what today's about. It is about celebrating their life and making sure that everyone knows these are real people that we lost. So when I get to talk about my husband I love to laugh and smile when I talk about him and really share the great guy he was. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: And to just bring it home and show you how each is a separate story. Nicki Bunting who we just talked to, her husband came home for R and R. He was for a little while. He went back to Afghanistan a few years ago. Four days back in Afghanistan, he was killed during an attack there.

Well, about a month or two later she found out she was pregnant. She's here with their year and a half old son who never got a chance to meet his dad, but she brings him out here. She wants this to be sort of a happy place.

Not a sombre place, but a place where she tells him this is like heaven. This is heaven. This is where you can come and see your dad. Carol --

COSTELLO: Chris Lawrence live at Arlington National Cemetery. Thank you.

Let's talk about politics now. Sarah Palin on her bus tour right now. Michele Bachmann will have a political appearance in New Hampshire today. Well, they both beat buying for the GOP nomination and who would win in a smackdown between the two? We'll ask that of our political buzz panel coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now. Singer Sean Kingston and a female passenger were injured when their jet ski crashed into a bridge in Miami.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO (voice-over): Kingston's record label says he is stabilized and refuted online claims that he died. Kingston's debut song "Beautiful Girls" shot to number one in 2007.

Hackers targeted defense contractor Lockheed Martin last week. The company calls it a significant and tenacious attack, but it says no critical data was stolen and that it was detected almost immediately.

A group of hackers also pirated the PBS web site posting a false story about the late wrapper Tupac Shakur. It said he's alive and well and living in New Zealand. They used the Tupac story to taunt PBS for a recent documentary about the Wikileaks scandal. Wikileaks has revealed secret defense and diplomatic information online. The hackers say they were less than impressed by the report.

A young man proposes to his girlfriend in a movie theater and he did it by filming the proposal and slipping that into the movie. What motivated him to go big like this? I'll ask him in just a few minutes.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is time for "Political Buzz," a lightning fast conversation hitting the hot political topics of the day. Each of our brilliant political observers gets 20 seconds to answer three probing questions.

Jamal Olsen is a Democratic strategist. Comedian Pete Dominick brings his own unique perspective. And CNN contributor Will Cain is a conservative political analyst.

So, let's get going. We start with a serious question first. One in four young veterans are unemployed on this Memorial Day. We ask why. Jamal?

JAMAL OLSEN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You know, we've got two problems. The first is problem with 18 to 24 male unemployment. And for that rate, civilian and veterans are about equal. But the big problem we have is in female veteran unemployment rate, which is about three points higher than civilian unemployment. And I think the VA and Patty Murray's (INAUDIBLE) for Hire (ph) bill ought to be able to really address that. We have to really target those women veterans and trying to get young men back to work -

(BUZZER SOUNDS)

COSTELLO: Out of time. Will?

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Debt, Carol. That's the answer. I'm not even talking about federal government debt. I'm talking about business and household debt are at historic highs. In an economic environment like that, it's hard to businesses to invest, it's hard for consumers to spend, and hard for unemployment to come down for young people, soldiers or otherwise.

COSTELLO: Pete?

PETE DOMINICK, COMEDIAN: Well, Carol, the military is disproportionately filled with people who I think don't have as many options to begin with. They don't come from wealthy families generally. And then we send them to places, and we should be ashamed of some of these places we send them. And we should go to IAVA.org, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans' Organization and support the legislation, the Hiring Heroes Act.

COSTELLO: Well done. At least it will help.

Question number two, the GOP race for president. Michele Bachmann versus Sarah Palin. Who wins in a smackdown? Will?

CAIN: Democrats, I think. Not only do I think these two can't win an election, I don't think they should. And the problem is, they suck the air out of the realm of people who should be up against Barack Obama as the Republican nominee. Like, I don't know, Tim Pawlenty maybe?

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: Maybe? Jamal?

OLSEN: You know, in 2007, when Hillary Clinton was running against Barack Obama, we used to say mama had the muscle and Obama had the magic. In this race, I think Bachmann's got the organizational muscle. And if Sarah Palin can get some of that organization, her magic ought to be able to win in a fight between the two of them. But I don't think either one will be the nominee.

COSTELLO: Pete?

DOMINICK: Listen, I have not seen Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin in the same room together. I've never seen them together. I'm not saying they're the same person, but maybe if you put them together, they could be a legitimate candidate. These two ladies are so far out there, Democrats and comedians, of course, are really hoping they will be the nominee. I'll tell you that right now.

COSTELLO: OK. Our last question. President Obama signed the Patriot Act by auto pen. That means a machine did the signing. Congressman Graves of Georgia wonders if that is that constitutional? Is it? Jamal?

OLSEN: You know, I've got say, it might be constitutional. I just don't know if it's all that good of an idea. He's depending on a 2005 legal ruling by the Bush White House. And trusting the Bush legal counsel is not a place where Democrats should (ph) start.

(BUZZER SOUNDS)

COSTELLO: Oh, did I mention this is -- you only get 10 seconds this time around. I didn't know we were still doing that. Will?

CAIN: I think for president who from Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to Obamacare to the war in Libya has shown a general disregard for the Constitution. Auto pen doesn't crack my top five.

COSTELLO: Pete?

DOMINICK: Well, the Patriot Act is what's I think probably unconstitutional. But as far as the auto pen, a lot of people don't know this, Carol Costello: John Hancock actually used the auto pen to sign the Constitution. So, we got to look at history. Wikipedia told me that.

COSTELLO: Who knew? Jamal, Will, Pete, thank you so much for being here. Our "Political Buzz." We'll be back tomorrow.

Checking events making news later today. In just minutes, there will be a wreath laying Memorial Day ceremony on the flight deck of the USS Intrepit - Intrepid, rather, now serving as a museum at Pier 86 on the West Side of Manhattan. A 100-foot American flag unfurled during the ceremony. It's all part of Fleet Week in New York.

A Memorial Day service honoring the men and women who have fallen in service to the country is being held at 1:00 Eastern at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The names of six servicemen are being added to the wall.

And in Joplin, Missouri, we expect to get an update at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on the number of dead and missing from that tornado that ripped across the city on May 22.

President Obama is getting ready to cross the Potomac and visit Arlington National Cemetery. He will take part in ceremonies to honor the nation's war dead. We're expecting that to begin later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: There was a time when a nicely dressed young man on bended knee was enough. Maybe that's changed. First, you may remember just a few weeks ago when the band Train serenaded a man's girlfriend so he could propose marriage to her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Yes, she said yes. Then there's the Google worker. He got his employer to help him propose by slipping this image - you're going to see it soon -- into Google Map Street View.

And then the latest. According to the groom-to-be, the greatest took place in a movie theater.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to have your blessing, sir. May I have your daughter's hand in marriage?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have my permission for her hand in marriage. I would love to have you as a son-in-law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: This was extreme. It got a bazillion hits on YouTube. The happy couple joins me in the NEWSROOM right now. Matt Still and Ginny Joyner. Welcome.

So, I just can't imagine what your life has been like since this thing became so huge. So how many TV shows have you been on now, Matt.

MATTHEW STILL, PROPOSED TO GIRLFRIEND IN A MOVIE TRAILER: We have done a few interviews, and we've a couple of national shows as well.

COSTELLO: When you say a few interviews, are we talking five, 10? You were just on the "Ellen" show. Come on. STILL: It's crazy. We actually did a radio show for Australia yesterday. And it was 6:30 in the morning there and I think 4:30 p.m. here. So, we've done all over the world. And it's been crazy. It's wild.

COSTELLO: It's just become like a business for you, hasn't it, Ginny? I mean, it's become more than a marriage proposal, hasn't it?

GINNY JOYNER, GOT PROPOSED TO VIA MOVIE TRAILER: It really has.

COSTELLO: What's it been like?

JOYNER: It was completely unexpected. We did not expect this at all.

COSTELLO: Really?

JOYNER: Not at all.

COSTELLO: So, when you set out to make this elaborate proposal in a movie theater, no less, and it became huge on YouTube and it is on the Internet, you didn't expect this?

STILL: No, ma'am. I did it all just because it meant a lot to Jenny and I. After our second date - it was pretty elaborate in itself, she said she felt like she was in a movie. And that's when I coined the phrase, no, we're going to make the movies jealous. And so that's why the whole movie theater, the whole trailer and asking her father's permission was important to me and also to her. So, I wanted to include all that.

COSTELLO: So, just personally -- I'm not saying there was anything wrong with it, but if my husband would make it public like that, I would kill him.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: Or my fiancee at the time. So, what about this makes you smile?

JOYNER: That so much thought was put into it. And it did mean a lot to us, the whole making the movies jealous. The time and effort put into it, the fact that he did ask my father. I did joke with him and said if he hadn't done it this way and I didn't see that he had asked my father, I might not have said yes. I would have said, have you asked my daddy first?

So, I didn't expect it to go - I mean, I never had an idea for exactly what I wanted. We put it on YouTube and Facebook for our family and friends that didn't get to be there to see it so they could see it because of course they heard about it, you know and they wanted to see the whole thing. So, we put it up and it just spread like wildfire. And here we are.

COSTELLO: Not only that, I mentioned you went on the "Ellen" show, and she's paying for your honeymoon to Jamaica, right? JOYNER: Mm-hmm.

COSTELLO: You also got free entertainment center, a TV and dad player, you got free dinnerware from Mikasa, free photography service, free offers for your wedding reception venue. And you guys don't even have a date yet?

JOYNER: Uh-uh.

STILL: Uh-uh.

COSTELLO: I mean, how do you think all these offers are pouring in? People want to cash in on your wedding!

STILL: I don't think it's that. I think people are really inspired by our story. The best e-mails we receive are the e-mails from people that say, you know, me and my husband, we've watched this together and we felt a lot of loss of romance. And watching your video has actually inspired us and showed us what real love is. Those are the absolute best e-mails that we get, and we love it. And I think - I don't think people are trying to cash in on this. I think people are actually truly inspired by the story.

COSTELLO: I think some people cynics, mind you -- might turn it around and saying you're using your marriage proposal to cash in on stuff like this, all this free stuff you're getting. So, how would you respond to those people?

JOYNER: Well, there's going to be those kind of people. I mean, just like the comments we get. We get negative comments. But for every negative comment we get and the people that are like that, we have 100 positive. And that's not what it's for, you know? I mean, people are going to say that --

COSTELLO: I can actually see others, like, putting together more elaborate proposals just to get what you guys are gotten.

STILL: They could. It wasn't about that. It was just about making something special between me and her. That's all that mattered to me was -- I love this woman really than anything in the world. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: That's so nice! How can I even argue with that? I can't!

OK, so when is the date? We want to know.

JOYNER: We really want the fall, but we don't have a date.

COSTELLO: Are you going to post it on YouTube?

JOYNER: No.

(LAUGHTER) STILL: We've got a lot of requests of people - a lot of requests of people that want to see it and all. So, I mean -- I don't know. I guess that's up in the air, too. We'll see.

COSTELLO: I think she just said no. You're going to have to learn some things before you get married!

(LAUGHTER)

STILL: Definitely. I'm taking notes myself.

COSTELLO: Thank you both. We appreciate it.

JOYNER: Thank you.

STILL: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We sent Rob Marciano - that's our weather guy -- to cover all kinds of weather, but take a look at this.

(VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Believe me, when he got off that thing, he was scared! We'll show you the latest and most dangerous roller coaster in America when we come back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That was awesome! Nice work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: With so many people having the holiday off, let's turn to Rob Marciano for today's forecast. And hopefully Rob, you'll give us a Memorial Day forecast that we'll love, and then you're going to show us something really fun and scary at the same time.

MARCIANO: Yes, that's right. So, you know, a little bit of something for everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: All right. Listen, hit the beach or go to an amusement park. Just down the road from CNN here in Atlanta is Six Flags of Georgia. And they've got a new ride. They have a new ride. It's called the Daredevil Dive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX WALKER, CNN PRODUCER: We're going to go 2,000 feet in two minutes. But the most important thing, first and foremost --

MARCIANO: We're going straight up. WALKER: Yes. Ten stories straight up. And at the back end of this is a 95 degree drop. Not 90. Not straight down. You're going in and down, 95 degrees.

MARCIANO: Are you kidding me? This is 90 degrees?

WALKER: We're just going to dangle here at the top before it drops.

Right here.

MARCIANO: Ahhh! Whoa! Whoa!

(LAUGHTER)

MARCIANO: Whoo! That was awesome.

WALKER: Nice work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: I love that.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: I love your hair!

MARCIANO: Eat your heart out, huh? My watch almost came off. It's not rough but the G forces from going almost inverted to the bottom is pretty intense. But it's a fun ride. So, it's a nice way to cool of on a hot day. So, after Memorial Day services this morning and parades, you know, you either go to the beach or maybe take in a roller coaster.

COSTELLO: That looked really cool. I'm going to head out there later myself today. Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: You're welcome, Carol.

The federal government wants us all to eat more healthy, so the Department of Agriculture's food pyramid is going away. It's been criticized as being too confusing. On Thursday, the feds are coming out with a new icon. The old pyramid is being replaced by a dinner plate. This is just an illustration, by the way, not exactly the new guidelines icon. But the new icon is meant to remind us to make healthy food choices and to show us -- tell us how many of each type of food we should be eating. That's what I meant to say.

And we are awaiting President Obama to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. We understand he has crossed the Potomac. And when he starts the ceremony, we'll take you back there. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You're taking a look at Arlington National Cemetery. That is the Tomb of the Unknowns. President Obama will soon lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. When he does that, we'll take you back to Arlington.

We do have a bit of news to tell you out of the sports world, though. This is breaking news, and it's shocking. From the world of college football, Ohio State has announced the resignation of its head coach Jim Tressel. Now, that move comes more than two months after he admitted he knew some players sold memorabilia, although he didn't tell anyone.

Tim May, the Buckeyes' beat reporter for "The Columbus Dispatch" joins us on the phone. Tim, I just find it so shocking. Why did the move come now?

TIM MAY, SPORTS REPORTER, "THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH" (on the phone): Well, Carol, I mean our investigative guy, Mike Wagner and Jill (INAUDIBLE) has been on this for a while. But in essence, what we can tell it's just a buildup of negative publicity, for lack of another word. And there may be other things coming down the pipe here in the next few weeks that cast maybe even a darker light or more of a shadow on the football program.

As late as two weeks ago, the athletic director, James Smith gave Jim Tressel a vote of approval at the Big Ten meetings. And then since then, the last week or so, it accelerated as Gordon Gee, the president of the university said in consultation with, in essence with his board of trustees. They decided the time was now to make a change. And they realized request Jim Tresel's resignation.

And Jim Tressel -- he loves Ohio State football. I know you used to live here. You understand what goes on in this town. He lives and breathes it. So, get him to step up and resign was a big moment. But he's trying to do what he thinks is right --

COSTELLO: Well, actually, you know what I thought, Tim? I thought of Woody Hayes. Even when he punched that player as the player ran down the sidelines, he didn't get fired. He didn't leave his job until much later. This just seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, tell us about these NCAA violations that supposedly many of his players were guilty of.

MAY: Yes, well, in a nutshell, what was found in December was the U.S. attorneys' office informed Ohio State that there were several of its players had been involved with a tattoo parlor owner in regards to selling or trading memorabilia either for cash or free or discounted tattoos. And there were other things involved there, too. But pretty much there was nothing illegal going on from the standpoint of these guys weren't, according to the U.S. attorney, weren't dealing in drugs or anything like that with these players.

But of course, they were breaking NCAA regulations or NCAA rules. And as those guys were suspended, but they weren't suspended for the Sugar Bowl. They were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl, but they were suspended for the first five games of this coming season.

With that said, we found out in January Jim Tressel had been made aware of at least one or two of these players being involved through an e-mail from an attorney here, but he never turned that information over to higher-ups at Ohio State. He did contact at least Terrell Pryor, a quarterback - he contacted one of his mentors back in his hometown of Jeanette, Pennsylvania about it --

COSTELLO: And of course, the thought is that because he wanted to win football game. He didn't tell of these infractions because he just simply wanted to win with his best players.

MAY: But Carol, the core - the core -- we can debate the NCAA on another show probably. But the core values of the NCAA, the 10.1 bylaw in essence requires everyone involved with NCAA sports if they smell, know of or see a violation to alert someone about it. Or a possible violation. And Jim Tressel didn't do that. Then he had a couple other chances to come forward with the information, and he didn't do that, either.

The only way it was found was by perusal of his e-mails while they were in essence preparing an appeal of the players' penalties. And so that's what in essence started the snowball rolling down the hill, which has gotten us to this moment.

COSTELLO: Yes. Tim Day (sic), thank you so much from "The Columbus Dispatch," joining us live this morning again. Ohio State's Jim Tressel, the football coach, has resigned.

We'll take a short break as we await the president at Arlington National Cemetery. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: As you can see, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. Of course, they're on their way to the Tomb of the Unknowns, a ceremonial thing that takes place every Memorial Day. But quite touching as the president readies to lay a wreath at the tomb. Let's listen.

(MUSIC PLAYING)