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CNN Saturday Morning News

Families Eagerly Await USS Enterprise Homecoming

Aired November 10, 2001 - 08:43   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: We want to continue sharing with you now a joyous event taking place in Norfolk, Virginia, as the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise sails back into port. There you see the mighty vessel there. Thousands of family members gathered on hand dock side.

Jeanne Meserve is also there. She's been watching events for us -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Martin, let me move over here. You can see it. There it is, the USS Enterprise. You might see those little figures all along the edges. Those are the sailors. They're doing what's called manning the rails. This is a navy tradition. They do it when the ship goes out, they do it when the ship comes in.

In fact, behind me the other half of the story. Look at this crowd. There are thousands of people here and when they first saw that ship they went wild. All these American flags waving overhead, the cheer was going up, and let me tell you, Martin, some of the tears started to flow.

I want to come down here. There was a particular woman who I saw in the crowd who was having a tough time controlling her emotions. Let's see if we can get her to talk to us. Excuse me, can you tell me your name?

ROSE: Rose.

MESERVE: Rose, I saw you getting really upset. Who's onboard?

ROSE: My husband.

MESERVE: And he's been away almost seven months?

ROSE: Yes, ma'am.

MESERVE: How are you feeling today?

ROSE: Great.

MESERVE: Overwhelmed, obviously.

ROSE: Yes.

MESERVE: Have you rehearsed some thoughts, some words you want to say to him when you see him?

ROSE: No, not really. I love you, that's it.

MESERVE: It's been really tough, I imagine, seven months away. How hard has it been?

ROSE: It's been very hard. We just got married in February and he left in April.

MESERVE: Oh my word. And tell me what does he do on the ship?

ROSE: He's an intercept, air traffic controller.

MESERVE: You've had e-mail. That's helped, I hope?

ROSE: Yes, very much.

MESERVE: It's not going to be the same as giving him a hug and a kiss.

ROSE: Right. It's not the same.

MESERVE: OK, well, have a wonderful reunion. It's coming up, I know, I just a few minutes time.

ROSE: Thank you very much.

MESERVE: So keep your watch out for him up there on the rail.

This ship is going to pull in here. It's going to take a while because of the heavy wind here in Norfolk today. It's going to take probably another 40 minutes or so to get it docked, then they have to tie it up, then we'll start to see those cranes move the gangplanks into view and then the sailors will start to come off. It's going to be a wonderful moment -- Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: Jeanne, we see the smile on your face, we see the smile on the faces of family members. It's obviously infectious there. Thank you very much for bringing us their thoughts as they wait for their families to come home.

Jeanne Meserve in Norfolk, Virginia.

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