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Obama Makes Surprise Afghanistan Trip; Six Victims Killed in Rampage, 13 Hurt

Aired May 25, 2014 - 16:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredericka Whitfield.

These are the stories topping our new this hour. We have new developments for you on the California shooting. We'll bring it to you in a moment.

But first, I want to begin with President Obama and this is how he spent this Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know it is a little late, but I was in the neighborhood. I thought I'd stop by.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A surprised Memorial Day weekend, visit to the troops in Afghanistan. Earlier today, he landed at Bagram Airfield, along with his team of advisers. Air Force One also had country music star Brad Paisley on board who give a concert for some 32,000 troops stationed there. Mr. Obama meantime talked to the troops about what they have achieved in Afghanistan and what the future may hold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: And once Afghanistan has sworn in its new president, I'm hopeful we'll sign a bilateral security agreement to move forward. And with that bilateral security agreement, assuming it is signed, we can plan for a limited military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Because after all the sacrifices we have made, we want to preserve the gains that you have helped to win. And we're going to make sure that Afghanistan can never again, ever be used again to launch an attack against our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. We have just learned that the president just departed the country of Afghanistan and now on his way back home to the U.S. of A.

All right. Let's bring in Barbara Starr at the Pentagon and Michelle Kosinski at the White House. So, let's talk about why the president decided to do this now and how significant.

Michelle, we begin with you.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

This is just a few hours long. Fred, as you mentioned, he's already in the air. But this was a time for him as his advisers framed it to meet with the troops face to face before making those key decisions about what exactly America's role in Afghanistan will be moving forward.

So first, he met with some of the commanders and the ambassador there to get a briefing of the security situation on the ground. Then he met with soldiers to give a speech, as well as he meet with some who are in the hospital and award some medals, we're told, also.

But as you heard him say in that part of the speech that we played, he's looking for a bilateral security agreement. Right now, you know, because of the politics of the situation there, with a runoff election between two presidential candidates, the president didn't want to meet with either of those. He didn't even want to meet with the outgoing president because he said, according to his advisers, he didn't want to get involved in those politics, but he does look forward to an agreement and both of those presidential candidates now have said that they're amenable to it to give America some force to stay there.

We don't know exactly what the scope of that will be, 5,000, 10,000 troops. No one is really giving detail. But in the coming days, the president will decide and he said in his speech that he feels that that's necessary to maintain some presence, to keep up those gains that he attributed to the soldiers there.

And this is a pivotal time. It was in the president's own words to not only define America's role in that country, but foreign policy, Fredericka, moving forward.

WHITFIELD: And, Barbara Starr, the message is something these troops heard before, that there will be a continued commitment toward counterterrorism, at this war is winding down but some troops will still have to stay in Afghanistan or will be committed to being in Afghanistan.

But why is it that it's the face time that really overshadows the message how important it is for the president to be there face to face, shake hands, take pictures with?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, nothing improves the morale of the troops than seeing the commander in chief especially on a holiday weekend when the troops themselves, of course, are certainly wishing they were back home with their families doing the barbecue, going to the swimming pool, but they are not -- 30,000 U.S. troops out there on the line. And the president taking the time to come see them, always a morale booster. He got applause in two key areas that really underscore this. He got applause when he said he was bringing the war to a responsible end, his words, because he's always talked about ending this war. But needing to have some troops stay to help train and advise Afghan forces so presumably Afghanistan doesn't become an al Qaeda safe haven again.

Those who got big round of applause when he talked about once the troops go home, they need jobs. You know? He used that phrase -- hire a vet. Big applause for that.

Many of these young people facing getting out of the military when they go home, looking for a job in a tough economy. The president's words about being committed to veteran's employment and working with employers in this country, getting big applause from them.

WHITFIELD: And then, Michelle, this week, the president is planning to I guess reveal more of the foreign policy agenda at West Point. What is the White House willing to say about that?

KOSINSKI: Just the changing situation, really calling this a pivotal time and the pivotal year, and Afghanistan is a bit of a cornerstone of that because that's taken up so many American resources over the past decade and we heard the president talk about this in his speech.

As for what the advisers are saying moving forward is two missions basically to continue in Afghanistan. And I think Barbara touched on some of this. One is continuing to train Afghan troops to take full responsibility for security in their country and also counter-terror.

And, of course, counter-terror has expanded well beyond Iraq and Afghanistan and the president concerned with and looking at places like Syria, Iran, even the situation in Ukraine are going to shape U.S. involvement in the world going forward.

Another thing I thought was interesting and key to mention is that it's going to be -- what the president presents in coming days will be how to really balance the U.S. stance in the world between taking the lead and being a leader in whatever response the situation's necessitate, but striking a balance between that and not overextending ourselves. Making a reference to what happened with those two wars.

So, that is going to be sort of a focus. As for the details of that, as well as what's going to happen exactly in Afghanistan, that's what we'll be waiting to hear, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Michelle Kosinski, Barbara Starr, thanks so much, ladies. Appreciate it.

Meantime, White House officials say President Obama has been briefed on that shooting rampage west of Santa Barbara, California. It says that they will continue to update the president as new details become available.

And in fact, we just learned about a new development with the investigation. Authorities tell CNN they are conducting searches today at the homes of the parents of the gunman, 22-year-old college student Elliot Rodger. They're looking for more information about the guns and where he went to practice shooting.

The sheriff's office says Rodger apparently shot himself in the head after he fatally stabbed three roommates and shot to death three students near their University of California-Santa Barbara campus. Three handguns in all found in his wrecked car, all bought legally in three different cities and he also had more than 400 rounds of ammunition.

Authorities say Rodger had been planning this killing spree for at least a year and they say he suffering from an undisclosed mental illness and under the care of mental health professionals. Rodger left evidence behind, including a seven-minute YouTube video and in it Rodger rants about being rejected by girls all of his life and he announces his intent to commit mass murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELLIOT RODGER, ALLEGED KILLER: Tomorrow is the day of retribution, the day in which I will have my revenge against humanity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That disturbing YouTube video wasn't the only warning sign. Rodger also e-mailed a 140-page manifesto to his parents and at least one of his therapists shortly before the shootings. And we have learned that his parents were frantically trying to find him about the same time that he was opening fire.

Pamela Brown is live for us now in Santa Barbara, California, with some exclusive new insight into the tragedy -- Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka.

Any moment now, we are expected to learn the identity of the three victims found stabbed to death inside Elliot Rodger's apartment. And we know from talking to a family friend of the Rodgers named Simon Astaire that he had grown frustrated with his roommates recently.

Apparently, he upset because they were making too much noise and played video games and contacted the landlord asking for them to move out and he was told that couldn't happen. And we're also learning from this family friend that as the rampage was underway Friday night, his parents were in a mad scramble to find their son after receiving this chilling manifesto. The family friend says 9:17 p.m. Pacific Time, (AUDIO GAP) discovered the e-mail. She read, one sentence, knew something was terribly wrong.

Went to Elliot's YouTube page where he was known to post videos and that is where she found the retribution video. She apparently immediately called 911 according to this family friend and called the father alerted him to what was going on and they sort of frantically trying to get in touch with him. They hopped in the car trying to get to Santa Barbara to find their son. And as they were on their way there, that's when they heard there was a shooting, only to find out later that it was their son, their 22- year-old son behind that shooting. And we are going back to look at whether any red flags were missed along the way, Fredricka.

We know that back in April, police visited Eliot's apartment to check on him. His mother was concerned about him. Called the therapist and the therapist thought it was important enough to call this mental health hotline in Santa Barbara. They contacted police to check on them, and police didn't find anything too alarming, said he was timid and shy and that there were no signs of danger to himself or the others.

And the sheriff, Bill Brown, talked about the fine line police have to walk with mental health issues. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF BILL BROWN, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: There's a general lack of resources and community mental health treatment generally, and there's also probably a lack of notification by health care professionals in instances where people are expressing suicidal or in certain cases, homicidal thoughts or tendencies.

And it's a delicate question and it's a delicate balance. You want to certainly intervene and obviously try to prevent a tragedy such as we have experienced here. On the same token, you don't want to stigmatize people who are seeking treatment for mental illness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And the family said the parents believe that welfare check last month was a pivotal moment. They feel like it was a missed opportunity. And, of course, it was so easy to look back, you know, and look in hindsight as to what could have been done differently and they're asking themselves what more they could have done -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I'm sure they are.

All right. Pamela Brown, thank you so much, from Santa Barbara.

Coming up, more coverage of that horrific rampage in California, what was going on in the mind of the killer? And how will students cope? We'll talk with one of the counselors who had been called in to help.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Friday's mass murder in southern California took place in 10 different locations.

Our Kyung Lah is live for us in Isla Vista, California.

So, Kyung, what is now the timeline as we know it?

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's talk about how long it took, first of all, because it really is a surprise to everyone who experienced it. When the shooting began, it took ten minutes and as you indicated, 10 separate locations of shooting spree that affected so many people in the small community.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAH (voice-over): This is where the rampage began, in the gunman's apartment. Three people stabbed to death. Detectives describe it as a horrific crime scene.

RODGER: The supreme gentleman.

LAH: From here, investigators say he got into his BMW, and just as he predicted in the YouTube videos, would head first to a sorority.

RODGER: On the day of retribution, I am going to enter the hottest sorority house of UCSB and I will slaughter every single spoiled, stuck-up blond (EXPLETIVE DELETED) I see inside there.

LAH: Four blocks from his apartment, the Alpha Phi sorority. They heard loud knocking coming from the front door. They did not open it. So, the gunman turned to three women who were standing over here. Shot and killed Veronika Weiss and Katherine Cooper, another woman was seriously injured.

Less than two blocks away, the I.V. Deli Mart. Surveillance video from inside the store captures the barrage of bullets. There's another victim killed, Christopher Martinez, just out for a sandwich.

RICHARD MARTINEZ, VICTIM'S FATHER: What about Chris' right to live? When will this insanity stop? When will enough people say, stop this madness? We don't have to live like this.

LAH (on camera): At this point, the pace is picking up. Witnesses here say he's driving the BMW into people on the street. One person is shot outside of these apartments. Gun fire, smashing windows. It is everywhere.

(GUNFIRE)

LAH: A few blocks away, the gunman shoots at a deputy and misses. Officers now in pursuit. He makes it a few more blocks. Striking a bicyclist, a couple blocks away, he shoots three more people until there's a gun battle with deputies.

It's four deputies that run across the park and fire into the suspect's car. They believe they have hit him in the hip but he continues to drive. He's able to travel a few more blocks until he strikes a bicyclist. That bicyclist hit so hard he caves in the windshield.

The BMW crashing outside (INAUDIBLE) apartment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw the driver get pulled out of the car. He looked very hurt. I mean, to me, he was either unconscious or already dead.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAH: Back here live at the I.V. Deli Mart. What you are seeing a memorial outside what officers are calling the very third scene of the rampage, but this is where Chris Martinez lost his life.

And a community here, Fredericka, is still trying to grapple with that loss.

WHITFIELD: Very painful road ahead for so many.

All right. Thank you so much, Kyung. Appreciate it.

All right. So, there are so many victims in all of this. What kind of help should be extended to many of them?

Joining me right now to talk about is Dr. Jeanne Stanford, a counselor at UC-Santa Barbara. She's on the phone with us.

So, Dr. Stanford, I understand that we know that the university posted a phone number for people if they need some sort of counseling, whether it's students or even parents. What are you hearing from so many people, been victimized from this rampage? What kind of words of comfort can you or others give?

DR. JEANNE STANFORD, UC-SANTA BARBARA COUNSELOR (via telephone): Good morning, Fredricka.

Yes. We are hearing a lot from our parents, our students, our community. They're all very concerned but the good part is they're staying together and we are definitely a community. In terms of words that we can give, we've just been sharing stories, sharing our love, sharing how much we care about each other, really trying to stay within our natural healing groups is the way I like to think about it -- our natural support groups.

WHITFIELD: And just looking at these still images of the vigil and how many people have come out and hugging and there were people certainly, you know, crying, even if they were not there on those, on that corner where all of the shooting took place, so many people clearly look like they were victimized and so, now feeling very fearful, they're feeling apprehensive.

What do you say to people? What kind of comfort can you extend to them even if they were not eyewitness to what took place, but they feel like they were directly impacted?

STANFORD: The reason we all feel like we're directly impacted is because we're human. Our human compassion comes out. We can imagine ourselves in that situation. Many of us have already lost people or experienced death.

And so, especially when it's your community, it really feels like you're a part of it because we are. You know, that's all six degrees of separation. And so, whether or not they had a friend, whether or not that was killed or is injured, it's really important to stay together. It's really important to reach out. It's really important to not let your feelings just stay inside and to keep things separate from other people. So, I think it's really important to be around each other.

WHITFIELD: Do you also expect to hear from people who feel, you know, frustrated and even angry now that they're learning more about this manifesto? Learning more about the YouTube video, learning more about the kind of mental instability or assistance this young man was receiving. People who might feel angry that there may have been some crucial flags (AUDIO GAP) opportunities missed to try to prevent this?

STANFORD: I think anger is always a part of grief. It's -- as well as the shock. You know? We all need that emotional release and looking back, what could have been done, what should have been done, but it's more important really with what needs to happen now. How the community can come together, what can we do to prevent things like this in the future?

But it's very, very natural to be angry or shocked or scared or, you know, just in some kind of emotional distress.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Stanford at UC-Santa Barbara -- thank you so much and our hearts go out to the entire college town community there.

Coming up, a father's heartbreaking words after his son was killed in that California rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTINEZ: When will enough people say stop this madness? We don't have to live like this! Too many have died!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: His very emotional plea when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: As you can imagine, the families of those killed in the California rampage are absolutely devastated, including Christopher Martinez's loved ones.

His father Richard Martinez held a news conference. His anguish was apparent but through his grief, he had a very firm message: stop this madness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD MARTINEZ, FATHER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: I'm going to try to get through this. My name is Richard Martinez, regular spelling M-A-R-T- I-N-E-Z, Richard. My son's name was Christopher Ross Martinez. He was 20 years old and he died last night.

I've written out a statement that was prepared by the family. Our son Christopher Martinez and six others are dead. Our family -- our family has a message for everybody parent out there. You don't think it'll happen to your child until it does. Chris was a really great kid, ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken.

Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live?

When will this insanity stop? When will enough people say stop this madness? We don't have to live like this! Too many have died! We should say to ourselves, not one more!

Thank you. That's it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Obama has left Afghanistan after his surprise visit to U.S. troops there today. He made the trip to thank the troops for their service on this Memorial Day weekend. And he said progress in the region is noticeable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Al Qaeda is on its heels in this part of the world and that's because of you. We said that that we were going to reverse the Taliban's momentum. And so you went on the offense driving the Taliban out of its strongholds.

Look. Everybody knows Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place. Insurgent still launch cowardly attacks against innocent civilians but just look at the progress that you've made possible. Afghans reclaiming their communities and more girls returning to schools. Dramatic improvements in public health and life expectancy and literacy. That's your legacy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: U.S. troops have been fighting in Afghanistan for more than 12 years now. And that war winding down at the end of this year.

And that war is the premise of a new movie that hits theaters this week. It's called "The Hornet's Nest."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your measure's not found in how much time you have on this earth. It's what you do with the time that you have. These people have suffered for too long. Change the course of history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: There's a story behind this movie and that's why we're bringing it to you this Memorial Day weekend. It began when former CNN correspondent Mike Boettcher decided to embed himself with U.S. troops in some of the most dangerous places on earth. And he invited his son Carlos to share the journey.

From the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan, they captured real video of real American heroes. And then turned it into "The Hornet's Nest." A remarkable movie that opens nationwide Friday.

Mike Boettcher is joining me live now from Oklahoma City.

Good to see you, Mike.

MIKE BOETTCHER, FILMMAKER: Good to talk to you again, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, we've worked together at NBC and then here at CNN and now who knew? Now you're a movie producer.

(LAUGHTER)

So you know --

(LAUGHTER)

BOETTCHER: Well --

WHITFIELD: Yes. You know Afghanistan and Iraq by way of being a war correspondent like no one else. Taking incredible risks. And over the years, you know, we've watched your stories every evening on NBC, on CNN and ABC. But what did you want to capture in this movie that two or three-minute story on television just simply couldn't tell?

BOETTCHER: Well, I felt that to really truly tell the stories of brotherhood and sisterhood there among our troops on the ground you had to spend years at a time. You couldn't just parachute in and I really wanted to display those bonds. You know, what they fight for. They fight for the guy to the left of them and to the right of them.

When they're surrounded, they're not thinking so much about big strategic gains like a war on terror. They're thinking about how they're going to get out of there alive, accomplish their mission and, you know, becomes a family. And I think it's really less of a war movie than it is a movie about family.

WHITFIELD: You know, and I remember those discussions that you and I would have about family. You know, just being on the road. You know, as a correspondent. And so now to hear that you would embark on this venture and you would invite your son Carlos, I mean, that's a pretty dangerous proposition to make. But why did you feel like it was so important that your son be part of this, which was a huge undertaking?

BOETTCHER: Well, you know, Carlos actually invited himself and he jokes now that I said we were going on a fishing trip and I deceived him. But, you know, Carlos had just gotten out of college. He really resented this work as you know, Fredricka, because it took me away from home 250 days a year.

WHITFIELD: Right.

BOETTCHER: And I missed everything like you did over the years, you know, birthdays and Christmas and Thanksgiving. And I thought that he wanted no part of the television news business. And when he came to me and said, pop, I'm going with you, you cannot go alone on this, I thought, wow. You know, I'm proud of him but I was worried because, you know, we've lost a lot of friends over the years trying to cover these wars.

WHITFIELD: Right.

BOETTCHER: And then I realized that he was the same age as those young men and women who are out there fighting and he wanted to make a difference, he wanted to do something important. And he did.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And you talk about you can't take on those stories and not think about your own mortality. And in this case now, your son's mortality. Did you feel like there were moments, you know, during this embed, during the shooting of this project, that you know, you started to really calculate, wow, is this worth it putting both of our lives on the line?

BOETTCHER: Yes. A lot of days. And especially -- there's a sequence that is the last act of the film, Operation Strong Eagle 3, it also opens the film, "The Hornet's Nest," where I was sure I was not coming out of there alive. And I've been in a few of those circumstances before but this time I thought it was a certainty I wasn't coming out, and I -- there's some times in the film where I turn the camera on myself because I thought, OK, this is it. And at least I want people to know where I was.

Now there were times with Carlos on missions where I thought he was dead and he thought I was dead. You know? This happened in Kost Province, it happened in Helmand Province in the south, and somehow we survived and, you know, what happened is because we were there so long, we became part of that Marine family, that Army family, and as much as we don't want them to look after us, they didn't care. They would look after us.

You know, we're just armed with our cameras and we're out there documenting it.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

BOETTCHER: And people say, you know, soldiers and Marines don't want that to happen. No, they want their stories told and that's why I feel that, you know, really there have been stories over the course of 13 years of this war but not enough. We basically, basically, you know, that war was ignored in great respect. And, you know, I wanted to create a historical document that tells that story of sacrifice.

WHITFIELD: And here's another look at "The Hornet's Nest."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fighting not only for this war on terror, they're fighting for their fellow soldiers.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: What is that story that some of these troops said they really wanted you to be able to convey that perhaps people didn't know about?

BOETTCHER: That they're out there every day fighting and dying for us. You know, a nation is not going to be free or just a nation very long if its young people do not raise their hands and say, I'm going out there and I'm going to fight for my nation. And what they believe and I believe is that there is a real epidemic of disconnection in this nation between that more than 99 percent of the nation that does not feel the pain of war and that less than 1 percent that does. Our troops. Our men and women in uniform. No matter what service.

And they feel that disconnection. Some days they felt like, does anyone know we're here? They are -- they are appreciative that people say thank you for your service, which Americans do now to make up for what happened after Vietnam.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BOETTCHER: But what we wanted to do was make a film that meant to the American public next time you say thank you for your service you know what the heck you're thanking them for. And in fact, you want to hug them.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And you know what? I wonder, Mike, you know, you've kind of always been a risk taker. You know, I remember working together that you always seemed to be more comfortable kind of going to the more dangerous places and I wonder if now, you know, do you have that out of your system? Are you thinking about another risky but rewarding, clearly, a very rewarding venture?

BOETTCHER: Well, I want to go back to Afghanistan to see the end of this. And I'll be going back for ABC News this summer to cover the last combat brigade going in. After that, you know, as you well know, it's tough to give away that ticket which is to me the most valuable ticket on earth which is a front-row seat to history and that's what always drew me to journalism and that's what draws me to the front lines of journalism.

It is that front-row seat to history which God has blessed me with and you know something? I'll keep going back. As long as I can walk and you know not slow the soldiers and the Marines down which I still don't do, I don't know why, I think I hide pain very well. But as long as they're out there, I'll be going out there covering them.

WHITFIELD: Well, you're always a great story teller, beautiful writer and this is really a beautiful, passionate undertaking, as well. And your message to vets this weekend?

BOETTCHER: Thank you for everything you've done for all of us, for us 99 percenters. Thank you. I know what that thank you means because I've seen the blood, the sweat and the tears that have been spilled for us. And I can't thank you enough.

WHITFIELD: Mike Boettcher, thank you for the message. So great to see you again, my friend.

BOETTCHER: Great to see you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Have a good weekend.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A milestone in baseball today. Josh Beckett of the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0. Giving up no hits, it's the first no-hitter of the season.

And for the nearly 12,000 homeless people in the D.C. region, finding their own place to stay may seem like a solution to all of their problems, but many people who finally lift themselves out of homelessness face yet another challenge. Turning that house into a home.

And that's where CNN Hero Mark Burgle steps in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very emotional right now. I'm so glad things are starting to turn around. It's been five years. Me and my kids had nowhere to go. We just had to go from place to place. We moved in here with nothing. But I see my children on the floor going to bed, it hurts me.

OK. Hi.

MARK BURGLE, CNN HERO: There is no stability and there's no dignity when you live in apartments that have nothing in them.

Anything it is that you want here, you put your sticker on, that's what you guys will take home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

BURGLE: Once we get the homes furnished, they have a chance to just take a breath and start to create a different life.

We pick up the furniture and other home goods from people that have more than they need and we distribute them free of charge to people who have nothing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something to sit on, something to lay on. Now my kids can pursue a dream.

BURGLE: This is a good start.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BURGLE: Right? I help people to find the hope that was missing from their lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Love you. Good night.

BURGLE: And the opportunity they did not know was before them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: If you know someone like Mark who deserves to be recognized, go to CNNheroes.com now and tell us all about them.

All right. A party at the 9/11 Memorial Museum upsets so many who lost loved ones that day. We'll tell you what else is also sparking criticism.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A historic day in the Middle East. Pope Francis on a three-day whirlwind tour visited Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and embraced the leader. He also called for renewed action on peace in the region. The Pope even offered to host a peace summit at the Vatican and invited the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Back here in the U.S., firefighters are getting better control over a wildfire in Arizona today but it could still double in size before they're able to fully contain it. The fire near Sedona has already burned more than 13,000 acres.

And the 9/11 Memorial Museum was meant to be a tribute to those who died that day. But for some of the families who lost loved ones, it has become a source of added pain all because of a party they found disrespectful.

Here's Alexandra Field.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jim Riches lost his son Jimmy, a firefighter, on 9/11 but he won't set foot inside the museum meant to honor the victims.

JIM RICHES, LOST SON: Disgusting. It's totally horrible. They were dancing on our son's graves and I'm very insulted. And I think they crossed the line.

FIELD: The latest, splashy headlines documenting a VIP cocktail party at the museum the same week it opened. Another affront to some who are already fuming over the museum's gift shop, the plans to open a restaurant and a $24 admission fee.

RICHES: I think it's now become a money machine and it's a revenue generating tourist attraction.

FIELD: The museum is defending the party which it calls a donor reception. In a statement, the museum's president, Joe Daniels, said, quote, "It is absolutely appropriate to thank donors who gave hundreds of millions of dollars and others including family members who worked so hard to make the museum a reality." Part of that reality, generating revenue. Museum organizers say it cost $65 million a year to run but some families insist their loss shouldn't be part of a gain for any reason.

SALLY REGENHARD, LOST SON: To have a cocktail party over the graves of 8,000 human remains of New York City's heroes and victims is truly a sacrilege.

FIELD: The unidentified human remains are housed in the underground museum behind a wall. Some family members feel the location isn't fit for a final resting place. They're vowing to fight to have their loved ones moved above ground, part of the memorial which is free to the public.

RICHES: We wanted to memorialize and honor our loved ones and to tell a story of the day. What happened I think they lost track of what they were going to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Alexandra Field joining us now live from New York.

So what's next in this?

FIELD: Well, Fred, this group of families is going to continue their fight. You know, there are different families that want different things but this group is increasingly vocal. They planned a demonstration. They would like to see these remains immediately removed from the museum, brought back to the medical examiner's office, and then they say they would like to see the unidentified remains entombed up on the plaza where it's open to the public and where there's 24-hour a day access.

So they're vowing to continue to push for that. They'd also like to see all the 9/11 families polled about what to do with these remains -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alexandra Field in New York, thank you.

All right. He played the iconic role of Lieutenant Dan in "Forrest Gump." Actor Gary Sinise has a message for all of us this Memorial Day weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He has photographed presidents, heads of state and celebrities, but Marco Grob's passion lies with a different subject matter, landmine victims.

MARCO GROB, PHOTOGRAPHER: Landmines you find pretty much everywhere where a conflict ends. There is not much I can do as a photographer, really. But the one thing I can do is to give those people affected a face and a name.

CUOMO: Grob travels to mine areas to photograph victims helping to raise awareness, alongside the United Nations Mine Action Service, or UNMAS.

GROB: Especially young boys, unfortunately, are often falling victim to especially cost ammunition which still looked like toys. Then there is the aspect problem and that unexploded ordnance, piles of ammunition.

What is in Afghanistan right now could show up at some sunny afternoon at Times Square. Unthinkable.

CUOMO: Grob wants the portraits to speak for those with the fear of landmines every day.

GROB: I would like people look at these stories and think of how even when we have our to deal with our daily problems, at least we don't have to be scared to take a step.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A reminder for all of us about what's most important this holiday weekend. Actor Gary Sinise will lead his Lieutenant Dan Band in tonight's Memorial Day tribute to U.S. troops and their families on the National Mall in Washington. And we talked to him about why he is focusing attention on our military.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY SINISE, LT. DAN BAND: There's -- unfortunately, there's a pretty big disconnect between the American people and its military, because unless you have a personal relationship with someone, a family member who's serving, or a veteran in your family or a friend or something like that, a lot of the American people don't really understand what the military does. There's a statistic that talks about almost 70 percent of the American people are disconnected to its military and really don't know what our military and our military families go through.

What's wonderful about this concert, it kind of highlights that and points up stories of sacrifice and service. Current sacrifice and sacrifice years past and it really highlights what Memorial Day is all about. It's more than hot dogs and ball games and barbecues and that kind of thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Gary Sinise. And since its creation 10 years ago, the Lieutenant Dan Band has performed at hundreds of concerts.

All right. That's going to do it for me. Thanks so much for being with me this afternoon. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The next hour of the NEWSROOM begins right now with Deborah Feyerick.