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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with Salinda and Brenda Moore

Aired May 12, 2002 - 07:24   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: All right. Well, we got a special little Mother's Day hook-up here.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah. I'm anxious to see this.

PHILLIPS: That's right. We're going to go live from Afghanistan. Here's Private First Class Selinda Moore. She's a cook with the Army's 44th Medical Unit at Bagram Air Base.

Hello, Selinda.

PFC SELINDA MOORE, U.S. ARMY: Hi.

PHILLIPS: All right. Oh, you're laughing because you know what's going to happen. Are you excited to talk to your little girl?

S. MOORE: Yes, I am, very.

PHILLIPS: Well, let me...

S. MOORE: That's my heart.

PHILLIPS: Ah! Selinda...

S. MOORE: I promise not to cry.

PHILLIPS: OK, that's OK. You're allowed to cry. It's Mother's Day. You're allowed to show some compassion. This is the first time you've been separated from your daughter, isn't that right?

S. MOORE: Yes,.

PHILLIPS: So how do you sort of keep her memory alive while you're there fighting this war against terrorism?

S. MOORE: Just staying strong. I can just about say that for everybody over here.

PHILLIPS: No doubt. And lots of mothers over there too. All right, well, let's get to business. What do you say? Let's bring on Grandma, Brenda and little Brenda, Brenda (ph).

Grandma, maybe you want to start off and talk to your daughter. Do you have a message for her this morning? BRENDA MOORE, SELINDA'S MOTHER: Just remember everything your mom told you, that you are always in our heart and we love you so much and we are very proud of you.

PHILLIPS: You can go ahead and respond, Selinda.

S. MOORE: I love you too. I am -- just about all of my friends -- still meeting new people. We all keeping each other strong.

PHILLIPS: Anything you want to say to your mom before you talk to your daughter, Selinda, any sort of special message this Mother's Day?

S. MOORE: I love you. I miss you. We all coming home in one piece. And Happy Mother's Day to you, first one that I'm not home, but I'll make up for it.

PHILLIPS: Well, you're doing a lot for all of us back here in United States, Selinda. All right, little Brenda Salamine (ph), can you hear your Mommy OK?

B. MOORE: Speak up.

PHILLIPS: Speak up now.

B. MOORE: Real loud.

BRENDA SALAMINE, SELINDA'S DAUGHTER: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. Go ahead and talk to your mom. Have you got any questions for her?

SALAMINE: Hi Mom.

S. MOORE: Hi baby. I miss you. I love you.

PHILLIPS: Speak up a little louder there, Brenda.

SALAMINE: Happy Mother's Day.

S. MOORE: Thank you, baby. I love you. Momma will be home soon.

PHILLIPS: Hey, Brenda, why don't you tell your mom what you've been doing? Tell mom what you've been doing every day with grandma and hanging out at home thinking about her.

SALAMINE: I've been going to school.

PHILLIPS: She's been...

S. MOORE: You're not Momma' little baby no more. You're big girl now.

PHILLIPS: What are learning in school? What can you tell your mom that you're learning in school, Brenda?

SALAMINE: My numbers, my address. PHILLIPS: She's learning her numbers. What else are you...

SALAMINE: And how to write my name.

PHILLIPS: She can write her name. Wow! What else Brenda?

SALAMINE: My letters.

PHILLIPS: Have you been writing -- you've been writing all of your letters? Now, when you've been practicing your letters, have you been writing a long letter to your mom too?

SALAMINE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: What did you -- what did you write in that letter to your mom?

SALAMINE: I've been making her pictures.

PHILLIPS: Ah! You've been making her pictures. Selinda, have you been receiving those pictures from your little girl?

S. MOORE: Yeah, we're getting mail pretty good over here. They're coming in.

PHILLIPS: But I -- Brenda, I think mom wants more. What do you think?

SALAMINE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Grandma?

B. MOORE: Yes?

PHILLIPS: Tell me how Brenda's doing, little Brenda.

B. MOORE: Well, we have our rough days when she miss her a lot. But every time Selinda does call her at home, that helps. It helps when she gets a card or something from her mom and it always lets her know that her mom still thinks a lot about her. And we pretty much stay close to all of that information with her. So it curves some of the missing.

So she -- you know, she's holding on. And we discuss her mom a lot with her and you know, she understands where her mother is and what her mother is doing and the reason why her mother is there. So it helps a lot, knowing all the information because we're pretty up front with her about this information.

PHILLIPS: Hey Brenda Salamine, what is your mom doing over there in Afghanistan?

SALAMINE: She's taking care of all of us.

PHILLIPS: She's taking care of all of us. You're right. That's right. Are you proud of your mommy in the military? SALAMINE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. Little Brenda is very proud of you, Selinda. Maybe you have some final thoughts for her. Anything you want to tell her? I know it's hard. Mail is difficult. What would you like to say to her this morning that you just can't say in a letter?

S. MOORE: It's -- there's a lot.

PHILLIPS: Go ahead.

S. MOORE: I mean, she's holding up stronger than I am. She keeps me going. Looking at her pictures everyday keeps me with my head up, making sure I do what I'm supposed to do while I'm over here. And knowing that she's doing good back at home, upset that I'm missing it, but I know my parents are taking good care of her.

PHILLIPS: Brenda, you want to tell your mom that you're doing OK?

SALAMINE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Go ahead and tell her. Tell her one more thought.

SALAMINE: I'm OK, mom.

PHILLIPS: She says she's OK, mom.

S. MOORE: I know it's OK. And I love you, too.

PHILLIPS: All right, Selinda Moore and Brenda Moore, and little baby Brenda, thank you so much for all being with us. Happy Mother's Day to all three of you. And little Brenda, we're proud of you that you're learning your letters and doing well in school.

B. MOORE: Thank you. Thanks, Selinda.

S. MOORE: You're welcome.

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