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Newly Conscripted Ukrainian Troops to Oust Pro-Russian Militants; FAA Annoucing Next-Gen Transportation Communication System; Tribute to Bomb Victims Starts Today's Boston Marathon.

Aired April 15, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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

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BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Brooke Baldwin, live here in Boston.

I have to tell you about Ukraine. A dicey situation unfolding in the eastern part of that country. Take a look for yourself. Because you will see -- here they are -- Ukrainian National Guard troops sent to oust pro-Russian militants from buildings they seized last week. Some are facing resistance.

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BALDWIN: So, newly conscripted National Guard troops are apparently being harassed by pro-Russians as they move toward cities where other pro-Russians continue to occupy buildings in defiance of Kiev. Now, keep in mind here, Russian forces are poised just outside of Ukraine, with Moscow warning Ukraine's government not to harm pro-Russians. One false move and this tense situation could become explosive. More on that a little bit later.

But the disappearance of flight 370 highlights the need for better ways to track planes. So the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, announcing a major upgrade to its next generation transportation system. That means air traffic controllers could better track our aircraft, and pilots have more access to information in the cockpit.

So to Washington we go to CNN aviation correspondent, Rene Marsh.

Just to explain, Rene, some of the changes, are some of the upgrades already in use?

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Some of the upgrades are already in place. And I should tell you, this is all part of what's called next gen. It's been in the works for years. And it's intended for aviation to be safer and more efficient.

Under next gen, the FAA is using satellite to track aircraft instead of old ground-based radar systems. Radar systems, we should tell you, they update the aircraft's position every 4.4 seconds. The satellite systems would be better, updating the aircraft's positions continuously. And the more precise information would allow controllers to better coordinate aircraft in the air. Satellites can also cover areas where radar is limited, such as over the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in mountain valleys.

So naturally, Brooke, the question is, could this sort of satellite tracking system prevent a plane from disappearing, like Malaysia flight 370. We've been asking experts this all day. And I have to tell you, it is very unclear, and uncertain. Even with the upgrade, we do know that the planes would still have transponders. If someone disabled the transponder, which is alleged to have happened in flight 370, one aviation facility told me the satellite would lose its ability to track the plane. However, there are others in the industry who say antennas would make it possible for satellite to continue tracking the plane, even if the transponder is off. So we're getting mixed messages here.

Keep in mind, this system was designed to make air traffic systems more efficient, not necessarily to prevent a plane from disappearing. But the point is, this is years away from being 100 percent complete here. And it is clear that even people who are in the know aren't quite sure that it would actually prevent another plane from disappearing -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: Clearly, they need to figure this stuff out.

Rene Marsh, thank you. We'll watch more of your reporting on "The Situation Room" tonight at 5:00 eastern here on CNN.

Coming up next, minutes from now, again, I'm live in Boston, an emotional silence will be covering the city. Live pictures as people are lining Boylston Street for the moment. At 2:49 p.m. eastern, the precise time when that first bomb went off, a moment of silence will be observed, raising of flags and church bells chiming. And we will all pause, and remember what happened one year ago today.

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BALDWIN: One year ago today, the nation started hearing a new way to describe how Americans rise up and unite in the face of terror. Two words, Boston Strong. On April 15, 2013, two bombs went off, 12 seconds apart, near the finish of the Boston Marathon. Three people died that day, 8-year-old Martin Richard, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, and 23-year-old Lingzi Lu. 264 people were injured, with at least 16 of them losing a limb. And MIT police officer, Sean Collier, was killed in the pursuit of those suspected bombers.

Today, "The Boston Globe" features a photo of some of the impact. It's all coming together. Look at this picture here. No doubt, what is on the minds of the faces you see here, is playing out throughout this great American city here, especially right here. I am feet from the finish line. These are pictures from the Heinz Convention Center, just a couple blocks from the finish line here in Boston.

A special ceremony has been under way to remember those who were lost, and to recognize really what's been gained one full year later. (SINGING)

DAVID YEPEZ, BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR: Today marks one year from when our lives were changed forever.

Boston Strong, a simple phrase with a not-so-simple meaning, became our uniting call.

PATRICK DOMINES (ph), BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR: Boston Strong is about the triumph of community itself.

THOMAS MENINO, FORMER BOSTON MAYOR: When you'll hear the song of promise. When lights dim, the cameras go away, know that the support and love will never waiver. Whatever you have to do to recover and carry on, know that the people of Boston and I was right there by your side.

ADRIANNE HASLET-DAVIS, BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR: Let April 15th be a day when we all work together to make this world a better place.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When I'm told of the 36,000 people lining up to start the marathon, you will send a resounding message around the world, not just to the rest of the world, but to the terrorists, that we will never yield. We will never cower.

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: America will never, ever, ever stand down.

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BIDEN: We are Boston. We are America. We respond. We endure. We overcome. And we own the finish line!

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BALDWIN: The vice president wrapping up his ceremony not to long ago. That ceremony one of many ways people today are remembering exactly what happened one year ago.

One woman, Kari Wagner, she created a prayer canvas in his travels all across the country. It has been signed, now, she just told me, by 100,000 people, including the House and the Senate, speaker of the House, several professional sports players.

Kari Wagner joins me now. And also with me Boston firefighter, Sean O'Brien. He knows the family of the youngest victim killed, 8-year- old Martin Richard, and also responded. He was on detail that day.

Welcome to both of you.

Can we just notice for a minute, as I'm standing here looking at you, I can't help noticing all the people gathering behind us, in the cold, in the rain, this is a tough town, Lieutenant. They're not going to let a little rain keep them back.

SEAN O'BRIEN, BOSTON FIREFIGHTER: Boston is a big city, but it's a small town. We all know each other in some form or fashion, today and a year ago.

BALDWIN: One year ago, you were working detail.

O'BRIEN: Yes, ma'am.

BALDWIN: You were not too far away from where we were standing now. You heard the first blast. You were one of the heroes who ran toward it. Tell me what you did.

O'BRIEN: I told myself, I could jump the fence. We managed to wade through some of the wounded. And we got to the second blast site, maybe within a minute or two. The beauty of it, the strange beauty of it, there were already people helping. There were firefighters there. Engine 7, Ladder 17, Engine 33, Ladder 15 had responded from the first alarm of fire, at the first box. So people were helping immediately. The entire scene was cleared in 18 minutes. And I don't know the raw numbers, but I was at that. Within 35 minutes, the most critically injured people were prepared for surgery. An amazing effort by everybody.

BALDWIN: It's amazing, but -- oh, let's the pause on this conversation, just take a listen to what's happening here live here on Boylston Street.

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ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we ask that you join us in a moment of silence.

Thank you.

(BELLS CHIMING)

(SINGING)

(APPLAUSE)

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BALDWIN: As we stay on these live pictures of so many out here in the wind and the rain on Boylston Street to pay their respects and to remember one year ago in these moments, the smell of smoke, the sounds of sirens and screams.

Lieutenant Sean O'Brien was one of those responding to the screams. And Kari Wagner, having been to Boston all of once in her life, saw what happened on the television and knew she wanted to help, knew she wanted to do something. So these two guests will be joining me as we watch some of this continuing to play out on such a significant day for the city of Boston.

Kari, to you. You have created this prayer canvas, 100,000 signatures strong. It's been out by the finish line. It will be in Boston Common. It will be at Fenway. Why did you care so much to do this?

KARI WAGNER, FOUNDER, AMERICA & BOSTON PRAYER CANVAS: I thought it was important to show the resilience and the compassion and the unity of the people of America. And we wanted to create a giant symbol that would show that. We wanted something everyone could participate in, regardless of age. And I think everybody wants to do something. They just don't know what.

BALDWIN: Lieutenant, you're standing here and watching all of this with me. People, some of whom on crutches, the old, young, all coming out. You were out, you responded. You rushed toward the second explosion site. Your little girl, Ava, one of Martin Richards' best friends. They were all at the same school at Dorchester. And here you were, a tragic irony, responding to the very location where this little boy lost his life. One year later, how are you? How is your daughter?

O'BRIEN: We're doing well. We're doing well. We're sticking in there, one day at a time. And if you notice, if you're able to see some of these survivors we're looking at now, their strength, and their endurance and their stick-to-it-ness. Have can you feel sorry for the sight when you see what these folks have done in this last year.

BALDWIN: What do you want people to know about the great small town?

O'BRIEN: I want them to know we're not victims. We refuse to be victims. When push came to shove, we stuck together. I don't think a lot of the parts of the world are like that. But in Boston, we may have these sibling rivalries on occasion, but on that day, we all worked together, and along with hundreds of civilians that stuck around and helped. Like I said earlier, we were able to clear that scene in 18 minutes. The most critically injured people got help within that -- well, within that golden hour that trauma surgeons talk about.

BALDWIN: Lieutenant Sean O'Brien, and Kari Wagner, thank you both for your generosity, for being here today, for your love of this wonderful city that is Boston. I appreciate it very much.

O'BRIEN: It's an honor. Thank you.

WAGNER: Thank you.