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CNN Live At Daybreak

Soldier's Mother Finds Son on Front Page of "USA Today"

Aired December 26, 2001 - 06:41   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.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Family photos have to suffice for many American mothers and children separated by the war in Afghanistan, but a Minnesota mother has something a little more impressive. Her son made the front page of "USA Today." Affiliate KMSP reporter Sue Turner talked to her about having a child on the front lines, especially at this time of year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHY, LANCE'S MOM: He's made a choice I don't understand, but I do respect.

SUE TURNER, CNN AFFILIATE KMSP REPORTER (voice-over): Kathy reads a poem she wrote in some anxious moments on Thanksgiving Day. Her son, Lance, is in the Army special operations serving in Afghanistan.

KATHY: It's my opportunity and my way of sharing what's really from my heart.

TURNER: She doesn't know much about his mission, because he can't tell her a lot, but a picture that ran in "USA Today," "Time" and "Newsweek" magazines gave her some insight.

KATHY: I opened this thing up, and I just started crying in the grocery store, but these people were looking at me kind of funny. I'm standing there looking at a newspaper, crying, and I'm holding it up, and I'm going, that's my son.

TURNER: Lance has served in the military for 12 years. He's been on missions all over the world, including Desert Storm, but this one worries Kathy the most.

KATHY: I'm probably better off not knowing everything he is doing, but at the same time, it's hard knowing he's over there.

TURNER: And Christmas makes it that much harder.

KATHY: When we said our prayer last night for our meal, we were all pretty -- kind of choked up.

TURNER: Kathy gets through apprehensive moments with the support of family and friends and by looking at a picture that is now known around the country. KATHY: Every other person is looking at a soldier, but I see my son.

TURNER: Kathy made buttons with her son's picture on it to give as gifts, and her Christmas cards included her poem, the words of a mother who is waiting anxiously for her son's safe return.

KATHY: His name says it all: Lance, one who serves.

Sue Turner, 9 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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