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American Morning
Volunteer Couple Who Symbolize Resilience of American Spirit
Aired November 29, 2001 - 09:56 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands of volunteers have come to New York to help the victims of the September 11th attacks, but few have the experience of one volunteer couple who symbolized the resilience of the American spirit.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A husky bear of a man, 77-year-old Lou Paterno (ph) loves to show off his travel map.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My neighbor next door says, you know, if you keep doing this here, I'm going to put a sign in front of your house, for sale.
HINOJOSA: All over the world, red tacks are for flying. Yellow for busses.
(on camera): Any of those your favorite? Oh, God, so much to choose from.
(voice-over): Across from the map wall, Lou's wife, Peg, shows off the family wall. But behind these two walls are the complicated stories of what moves the Paterno family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lou had Mary, Tom, and I had Bill, Dave and Jim.
HINOJOSA: Because Lou and Peg were both widows before they were 30. Their marriage brought five children little together.
(on camera): Where were you when you were a widow at 27? Where are those memories? What was that like?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I get into that now, this number of years later, I will start to cry.
HINOJOSA (voice-over): But had sadness isn't over. Their son David was diagnosed with AIDS.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was a doctor, a chiropractor, and she said, together, they were going to lick it. HINOJOSA: His doctor, Connie, became David's wife, but months later, she is killed in the Lubiz (ph) massacre in Texas, and he dies of AIDS.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just felt this was our therapy to them, to help other people.
HINOJOSA: Out of all this sadness and tragedy, a rebirth, a calling, and a life of service for the Paternos.
(on camera): Where else did you volunteer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went to Haiti, the poorest of the poor.
HINOJOSA (voice-over): Vacations aren't just for rest, but to help people in need.
In Indonesia, English classes for girls, and ever since September 11th.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We certainly understand what you are going through.
HINOJOSA: ... this retired couple from Connecticut have spent their days comforting new widows and other parents who have lost their children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They want to connect with us. They know how bad we're hurt.
HINOJOSA: Joanne Barbara lost her spouse, just like Peg and Lou.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think you will ever find a disaster that will even compare with this, the sheer numbers of people that are were killed in one particular spot.
HINOJOSA: So while other retirees are relaxing, the Paternos prefer to help others, just like others helped them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Other people have helped me, and I feel that it's my turn to help them.
HINOJOSA: Even if it means spending Thanksgiving dinner with other Red Cross volunteers.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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