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American Morning

George W. Bush Honors WWII Soldiers; Female Veterans Remembered

Aired May 28, 2001 - 11:19   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking at live pictures, the traditional wreath-laying, from the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The president has already placed the wreath. The "Taps" have played. And now he's in a brief hold. And we are waiting for him to make his remarks.

We are going to go to our Major Garrett, who is live at the White House. Major, what do you expect the president to talk about?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's interesting. I just had a chance to talk to the president's chief speechwriter, Mike Gerson. And I asked him for a little bit of a heads-up about what the president would say.

He said, really, there will be no news in this speech, just some general remarks about Memorial Day, about the sacrifice that so many soldiers have made for the country in all of the wars fought on behalf of the United States, fought for freedom, fought for liberty, and also talk about the service rendered by those in uniform right now and what the president will try to do -- along with his defense secretary -- to meet all of their needs.

As for the real news, the president made it earlier this morning here at the White House, signing legislation to eliminate all legal roadblocks to the creation of a World War II memorial on the National Mall. And he also signed an executive order today that will create a presidential task force that is going to look into improving the delivery of services to veterans and military retirees, particularly those who file benefit claims.

Right now, according to the White House, it takes 273 days for the average claim for any veteran to be filed. This presidential task force has set up a goal of cutting that period from 273 days to 100 days by the year 2003 -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Major, let's go back to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery -- maybe talk a little bit of history here. I know you know a lot about this and the ceremony.

Now, it used to be called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But that has been changed to the Tomb of the Unknowns. Can you talk a little bit about that? GARRETT: Well, first of all, let me stress to our audience, I would in no way characterize myself as a military historian. It's sort of a hobby of mine to learn and educate myself, generally speaking, about military history in the United States.

But I have been to Arlington National Cemetery many times. It's a solemn place, sacred ground for anyone who has ever served in the United States military and, for that, matter any American. And at the Tomb of the Unknowns, what is...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen...

GARRETT: I believe we are having an announcement here. Oh, this is a -- this is the -- General Jackson, who is the leader of the District of Columbia military service. He will introduce Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will make some brief remarks and then introduce the president of the United States.

Do we want to take that or do we want to still chat a little bit about...

PHILLIPS: Should we listen in?

GARRETT: ... the Tomb of the Unknowns?

At the Tomb of the Unknowns, there is a special military detail. And you saw a little bit of where they march or where they walk in sort of a sentry procedure. It was that area the president walked across as he approached the Tomb of the Unknowns to lay the wreath.

There is a two-person military detail. They walk -- march, rather -- in precise order to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns 24 hours a day. It is a great detail for any member of the United States military to be assigned to -- sacred, they believe. And if you go there, and you see it, they march in absolute complete silence.

No words are spoken. It's a very quiet, calm sort of place. But you see these two soldiers marching back and forth in very precise steps, very precise length, turn, walk back, turn, come back. And you see their sort of dedication embodied in this very precise military procedure at the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is where, of course, soldiers have been laid to rest who have never been identified in previous battles.

Forensic science has led us to the point now where we can identify all war dead. So no new remains will be added there, just those who have been there up until now.

PHILLIPS: Major, great piece of history. We will get to talk a little bit more about that, as General James Jackson continues to make opening remarks. And like you said, he will introduce the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld. And then the president will make his remarks.

And we'll be covering it all live -- Daryn. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, while we wait for the president to make his remarks, we want to check in with Jeanne Meserve. She is on the Mall today at a site where there will be built a tribute to the veterans of World War II, a controversial memorial that a lot of people didn't want to see be built. But a lot of people wanted to have it built before too many more veterans died and they can see it in their lifetime.

Here is Jeanne -- Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

And construction expected to get under way here in July, expected to be completed in early 2004 -- it's estimated that, by then, only about 3.5 million veterans of World War II will still be alive.

Joining me here today is Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, retired from the U.S. Air Force -- and also president of Women in Military Service Memorial Foundation.

Will women be honored at this memorial here?

BRIG. GEN. WILMA VAUGHT, AIR FORCE (RET.): They certainly will -- and rightly so.

They'll be honored not only as members of the military, but also for the work that they did in the defense industries and at home and in all of the ways that they participated during that great war.

MESERVE: And yet you are in charge of the Military Women's Memorial over in Arlington Cemetery. Why did you feel that there was a need for that memorial separate and apart from all of the other war memorials here in Washington?

VAUGHT: Because the women really weren't recognized that well in the other memorials here in Washington at that time. Now, of course, for the Vietnam War, the names of the eight women who died during that war were there.

But I felt there was story to be told about women's service, which began with the American Revolution and goes through today and will go on into the future. And that story had never really been told, of what women did, what they had accomplished, the changes they made.

MESERVE: And what will be happening today at the Women's Military Memorial?

VAUGHT: Well, at 5:00, we are going to have a ceremony, a wreath-laying ceremony, as well as a special ceremony that came out of our dedication. And we will have five women speakers, service women, telling about their experiences in the military or what Memorial Day means to them.

And at conclusion of each of their remarks, they will place rose pedals in the Reflecting Pool in memory of those who served. MESERVE: And you were suggesting to me that you thought you knew who the woman representing the Navy would be mentioning today.

VAUGHT: I am confident that the representative of the Navy will mention those women who were killed during the terrorist attack against the USS Cole.

MESERVE: Now, you have some ongoing costs in maintaining the educational center at the Women's Memorial. Did you come into some competition with the people who were raising funds for this World War II memorial?

VAUGHT: Well, absolutely, because some of our best constituents are World War II veterans. You know, a good share of the 1.8 million women who served were the 400,000 who served in World War II or the Korean War. So, yes. And they were committed to seeing the World War II memorial built, as I was.

I was, you know, in grade school during World War II. And I believe that the World War II people -- and particularly the women -- changed the world. The women went into the service. They learned new skills. They went home. They weren't content to be as they had been before. They had been to other places. And they changed America. And they changed the world.

MESERVE: Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, thanks so much for joining us. And enjoy your Memorial Day.

VAUGHT: Thank you.

MESERVE: And now, Daryn, back to you in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Jeanne, thank you.

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