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American Morning

U.S. Crew Homecoming: Whidbey Island Residents Await Return of U.S. Crew Members

Aired April 13, 2001 - 09:58   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands are expected to be on hand to greet the Navy crew tomorrow at their base at Whidbey Island, Washington.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Brian Cabell is already there. He's at the Daily Grind cafe. He's got more for us -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Tomorrow is the big day. We're expecting as many as 10,000 people out at Whidbey Island to greet the men and women as they come home. Where do they come in the morning? We're told the Daily Grind. It's a place where you get espresso, where you have got some muffins, or you come for some good talk.

And over here, we have some schoolteachers. We are told they gather just about every Friday to come down here and talk about things. Let me ask you this: This has been a big story here. Have you incorporated it into your classroom at all?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I did. I am a Spanish teacher. And we don't use English in the classroom. And, yesterday, when the boys were flying in, we stopped everything and the kids asked if we could turn the TV on. And I said "Sure." And that was a big deal for us. And then we had discussion, of course, in Spanish. But it was very strong tugging on our hearts: having them come in and land.

CABELL: Do any of you know any of the 24?

Do you know them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I know Jeff Vignery from church. And it was just -- it was a wonderful feeling. I was home yesterday, and it was good to be able to see it live, and really something that has brought the community together.

CABELL: There is a close bond between the base and the community here, isn't there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, there is -- a lot of support. And it's just good to see that the diplomacy worked. And it's ended up to be a great situation.

CABELL: Thank you very much.

Again, schoolteachers, administrations, retired teachers here from the Daily Grind for some espresso, for some muffins, and then they go down to school -- back to you, Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Brian. We'll talk to you a bit later on.

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