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CNN Live Saturday

Parade for EP-3 Crew Today in Washington State

Aired April 28, 2001 - 13:25   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are among the marchers in this afternoon's parade saluting the U.S. crew that was held in China happening on the island in Washington state where the crew is based.

CNN's James Hattori is there right now -- James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Donna. You know the Chamber of Commerce was bound and determined that it wasn't going to rain on their parade today, and sure enough despite some earlier rain, it has cleared up and some of these prayers were answered.

You can already see behind me, the crowds are gathering here in preparation for the Holland Happenings, which is the 32nd annual event. It acknowledges the Dutch roots of the community in Oak Harbor, and island which is northwest of Seattle and the Puget Sound.

The parade's going to begin in about half an hour. Among the -- the eight grand marshals, as you mentioned, are the crew members of the EP-3 plane, the surveillance plane that went down in China. They returned here two weeks ago after 11 days in captivity. They are a young group, in their 20s. Most of them married, and that helps them in terms of this adjustment period that they're going through. The Navy had given them 30 days to spend with their families and get back to normal.

Another part of getting back to normal for them will be getting back in the air. Of course, they don't have a plane right now, it is still in China. And it's not clear, after their leave is finished when they are actually going to begin flying a mission. But today this is all about festivities. There's going to be fireworks tonight. As you mentioned, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders will me making an appearance. And you know what kind of reception they're going to get at a military base.

Donna, we'll have highlights of the parade this afternoon. It should get underway very shortly.

KELLEY: All right, James Hattori, at Oak Harbor. Thanks very much. We'll see you soon.

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