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American Morning
Jessica Lynch Homecoming
Aired July 22, 2003 - 07:14 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The pride of Palestine, West Virginia, is going home. Army Private Jessica Lynch will receive a hero's welcome when she arrives this afternoon.
Yesterday, during a ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the former prisoner of war was awarded medals for her service in Iraq. She's been at that facility for the last few months recovering from her wounds in the war.
CNN's Bob Franken joins us now live from Elizabeth, West Virginia, where they are anxiously awaiting Lynch's arrival.
Good morning to you.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
These are significant medals -- the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the POW medal. But they really are just the preliminaries for an emotional return.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Surely during her most desperate time as a prisoner in barren Iraq, there were moments that Jessica Lynch never imagined she'd ever see these lush, West Virginia vistas again. But now, she returns to family and friends.
ARLENE SHEPPARD, NEIGHBOR: We only live, like, three miles up the road from her. So, we have known her all her life, and it's wonderful that she's coming back.
FRANKEN: Questions about the circumstances of her capture are beside the point here. The evidence of celebration over her return is everywhere -- the signs, the yellow ribbons, the economic opportunities.
J.T. Rock (ph) is renting space on his property along the short parade route to satellite trucks, including CNN's.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People come and it promotes a little prosperity for the area, and they need that. So, you know, it all works out fine. It's great. So, we're happy with it.
FRANKEN: The media also have their own village, where Jessica Lynch will make her brief public comments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The press statement itself is going to be closed public/open press.
FRANKEN: Sources say Jessica Lynch can still move only 100 feet or so using a walker, and still has trouble standing.
(on camera): Family members say they have done about all of the talking they're going to for awhile. Meanwhile, workers are putting the finishing touches on a major expansion of their home to allow for Jessica's rehabilitation.
(voice-over): Financing came from businesses, local and national. The project was done by volunteers.
Even some trustees from the local jail got involved.
FRANK HART, JAIL TRUSTEE: We're just proud to be here. We're still Americans. That's the main part of it.
FRANKEN: And now, whenever she wants, Jessica Lynch can look around, or outside her window, and know that she's home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
She is going to be arriving by Blackhawk helicopter at an undisclosed location. They're quite concerned about security here. The first glimpse any of us will have and the first words we'll hear from her will come from this media encampment, a very professional operation that's been set up by the state of West Virginia. You should know, Soledad, this is being called "Camp Jessica" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bob, thanks for that report.
One of the many people who will be on hand to welcome Jessica Lynch home today is Linda Davies. She was Jessica's kindergarten teacher and remains a family friend. Linda Davies joins us from Elizabeth, West Virginia, this morning.
Good morning to you, Ms. Davies. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.
LINDA DAVIES, LYNCH FAMILY FRIEND: Good morning, and welcome to Wirt County, West Virginia.
O'BRIEN: Well, thank you very much. I'm sorry I can't be there in person.
Tell me a little bit about the mood of the town. How are you doing today?
DAVIES: Oh, it's exciting here. But I think everybody will be glad when it's over and she can settle in and we can all give her a hug.
O'BRIEN: I know that you're close to the family. I know, in fact, that when word of Jessi's safe return was called to the family, you were the one who was there. Have you heard how Jessica has been holding up in the recent weeks? DAVIES: Actually, I got to go visit Jessica just a couple of weeks ago, and she's the same bubbly, happy Jessi that I knew before all of this happened.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's nice to hear. Give me a sense of the specific things that are being planned in town for her today.
DAVIES: Our band will be here with their new uniforms on, and I know there will be a lot of people lining the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of her and wave to her, even though we can't get too close to her today.
O'BRIEN: I know, and you know well, that as Jessi is not only the focus of the town but also the focus of national attention. There are going to be a lot of folks camped out on her front porch steps, mostly media people. Do you think she can handle all of this attention?
DAVIES: She's still pretty shy, but I think she'll do fine with it. I just want everybody to know that God has given us this miracle, and you all get to see it today in person.
O'BRIEN: Well, we're looking forward to seeing it. I heard that the town's been spruced up, and we saw some pictures of it. What do you like the best that's been cleaned up and painted and done?
DAVIES: Seeing all of the signs and the flags as you come through town gives me cold chills every single time I drive through.
O'BRIEN: That's nice to hear. And you know well that Jessi has got trouble walking, that she's been using a walker, that she has a long rehabilitation ahead of her. You're in a small town. Is she going to be able to get the privacy and the support that she needs to make progress in her rehab?
DAVIES: Yes, I think that family and friends will respect her privacy so that she can have her therapy and get the rehabilitation that she needs.
O'BRIEN: Jessi has said that she wanted to be a teacher. In fact, I believe that she kind of wants to come in and take over your job one day. Do you think that...
DAVIES: I'd love for her to be.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I like to hear that. Do you think that's something she's going to be able to work on?
DAVIES: I'd love for her to.
O'BRIEN: And I'm sorry, I'm tripping over you there.
DAVIES: I'm hoping so. She's going to have so many opportunities open to her. But I hope down the road she still will continue her dream of being a teacher. O'BRIEN: Well, we are thrilled that you're joining us this morning. Really, it's wonderful to report on good news, and it's nice to have you. I know it's a busy and crazy day for you, so thanks for your time.
DAVIES: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: And a reminder, CNN is going to provide live coverage of Lynch's arrive in West Virginia, and also her statement which is set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired July 22, 2003 - 07:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The pride of Palestine, West Virginia, is going home. Army Private Jessica Lynch will receive a hero's welcome when she arrives this afternoon.
Yesterday, during a ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the former prisoner of war was awarded medals for her service in Iraq. She's been at that facility for the last few months recovering from her wounds in the war.
CNN's Bob Franken joins us now live from Elizabeth, West Virginia, where they are anxiously awaiting Lynch's arrival.
Good morning to you.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
These are significant medals -- the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the POW medal. But they really are just the preliminaries for an emotional return.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Surely during her most desperate time as a prisoner in barren Iraq, there were moments that Jessica Lynch never imagined she'd ever see these lush, West Virginia vistas again. But now, she returns to family and friends.
ARLENE SHEPPARD, NEIGHBOR: We only live, like, three miles up the road from her. So, we have known her all her life, and it's wonderful that she's coming back.
FRANKEN: Questions about the circumstances of her capture are beside the point here. The evidence of celebration over her return is everywhere -- the signs, the yellow ribbons, the economic opportunities.
J.T. Rock (ph) is renting space on his property along the short parade route to satellite trucks, including CNN's.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People come and it promotes a little prosperity for the area, and they need that. So, you know, it all works out fine. It's great. So, we're happy with it.
FRANKEN: The media also have their own village, where Jessica Lynch will make her brief public comments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The press statement itself is going to be closed public/open press.
FRANKEN: Sources say Jessica Lynch can still move only 100 feet or so using a walker, and still has trouble standing.
(on camera): Family members say they have done about all of the talking they're going to for awhile. Meanwhile, workers are putting the finishing touches on a major expansion of their home to allow for Jessica's rehabilitation.
(voice-over): Financing came from businesses, local and national. The project was done by volunteers.
Even some trustees from the local jail got involved.
FRANK HART, JAIL TRUSTEE: We're just proud to be here. We're still Americans. That's the main part of it.
FRANKEN: And now, whenever she wants, Jessica Lynch can look around, or outside her window, and know that she's home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
She is going to be arriving by Blackhawk helicopter at an undisclosed location. They're quite concerned about security here. The first glimpse any of us will have and the first words we'll hear from her will come from this media encampment, a very professional operation that's been set up by the state of West Virginia. You should know, Soledad, this is being called "Camp Jessica" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bob, thanks for that report.
One of the many people who will be on hand to welcome Jessica Lynch home today is Linda Davies. She was Jessica's kindergarten teacher and remains a family friend. Linda Davies joins us from Elizabeth, West Virginia, this morning.
Good morning to you, Ms. Davies. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.
LINDA DAVIES, LYNCH FAMILY FRIEND: Good morning, and welcome to Wirt County, West Virginia.
O'BRIEN: Well, thank you very much. I'm sorry I can't be there in person.
Tell me a little bit about the mood of the town. How are you doing today?
DAVIES: Oh, it's exciting here. But I think everybody will be glad when it's over and she can settle in and we can all give her a hug.
O'BRIEN: I know that you're close to the family. I know, in fact, that when word of Jessi's safe return was called to the family, you were the one who was there. Have you heard how Jessica has been holding up in the recent weeks? DAVIES: Actually, I got to go visit Jessica just a couple of weeks ago, and she's the same bubbly, happy Jessi that I knew before all of this happened.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's nice to hear. Give me a sense of the specific things that are being planned in town for her today.
DAVIES: Our band will be here with their new uniforms on, and I know there will be a lot of people lining the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of her and wave to her, even though we can't get too close to her today.
O'BRIEN: I know, and you know well, that as Jessi is not only the focus of the town but also the focus of national attention. There are going to be a lot of folks camped out on her front porch steps, mostly media people. Do you think she can handle all of this attention?
DAVIES: She's still pretty shy, but I think she'll do fine with it. I just want everybody to know that God has given us this miracle, and you all get to see it today in person.
O'BRIEN: Well, we're looking forward to seeing it. I heard that the town's been spruced up, and we saw some pictures of it. What do you like the best that's been cleaned up and painted and done?
DAVIES: Seeing all of the signs and the flags as you come through town gives me cold chills every single time I drive through.
O'BRIEN: That's nice to hear. And you know well that Jessi has got trouble walking, that she's been using a walker, that she has a long rehabilitation ahead of her. You're in a small town. Is she going to be able to get the privacy and the support that she needs to make progress in her rehab?
DAVIES: Yes, I think that family and friends will respect her privacy so that she can have her therapy and get the rehabilitation that she needs.
O'BRIEN: Jessi has said that she wanted to be a teacher. In fact, I believe that she kind of wants to come in and take over your job one day. Do you think that...
DAVIES: I'd love for her to be.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I like to hear that. Do you think that's something she's going to be able to work on?
DAVIES: I'd love for her to.
O'BRIEN: And I'm sorry, I'm tripping over you there.
DAVIES: I'm hoping so. She's going to have so many opportunities open to her. But I hope down the road she still will continue her dream of being a teacher. O'BRIEN: Well, we are thrilled that you're joining us this morning. Really, it's wonderful to report on good news, and it's nice to have you. I know it's a busy and crazy day for you, so thanks for your time.
DAVIES: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: And a reminder, CNN is going to provide live coverage of Lynch's arrive in West Virginia, and also her statement which is set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
