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CNN Live Sunday

Survivors Of September 11 Raising Money For Pentagon Memorial

Aired August 10, 2003 - 18:22   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.


KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it has been nearly two years since the September 11th attacks and while Americans are moving forward with their lives, and progress is being made in the war against terror, some of the families of the victims of those attacked are still waiting for help -- not to resume their lives, but to honor the loved ones they've lost. Our Patty Davis explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTI DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Tom Hydenburger still mourns for his wife, Michelle, a flight attendant on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

Now, he and other families are faced with a new challenge. Raising $20 million for a memorial near the September 11th crash site.

TOM HYDENBERGER, WIFE DIED ON FLIGHT 17: So we all remember that one day, and the effect that it's had on all of us.

DAVIS: They've chosen the design.

JANICE PUNCHES, HUSBAND DIED AT THE PENTAGON: We wanted it peaceful. We wanted serenity. We talked about water. We talked about a place that we could go.

DAVIS: Each of the 184 memorial benches will bear the name of one person who died that day, including Janice Punches' husband, Jack.

PUNCHES: His name will be there. My husband's name will be there and will be remembered.

DAVIS: Small reflecting pools will light each. The memorial, organized by the ages of the victims, three to 71.

KEITH KASEMAN, DESIGNER: Built into the experience of walking through the site you will understand there were five children who died that day.

DAVIS: This week, a construction company was hired to turn the family's vision into reality.

MARK KONCHAR, CENTEX PROJECT MANAGER: Those memorial units facing toward the Pentagon are commemorating the lives lost in the Pentagon. And those facing away from the Pentagon are commemorating the lives lost in the airline, that crashed into the side of the Pentagon. DAVIS: But ground-breaking for the memorial has been delayed. So far the families have raised about $1 million, not enough to begin construction.

PUNCHES: It's a scary endeavor. I mean, we're all thinking about it.

DAVIS: The Pentagon is raising money as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think, you know, the generosity of the public -- I think we will do it. It might take us a while. I think we've got a good start. And I think we can do it.

DAVIS: The families say they'll take out a loan if they have to. The memorial, and what happened on that September day nearly two years ago, simply too important to forget. Patti Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Memorial>


Aired August 10, 2003 - 18:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it has been nearly two years since the September 11th attacks and while Americans are moving forward with their lives, and progress is being made in the war against terror, some of the families of the victims of those attacked are still waiting for help -- not to resume their lives, but to honor the loved ones they've lost. Our Patty Davis explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTI DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Tom Hydenburger still mourns for his wife, Michelle, a flight attendant on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

Now, he and other families are faced with a new challenge. Raising $20 million for a memorial near the September 11th crash site.

TOM HYDENBERGER, WIFE DIED ON FLIGHT 17: So we all remember that one day, and the effect that it's had on all of us.

DAVIS: They've chosen the design.

JANICE PUNCHES, HUSBAND DIED AT THE PENTAGON: We wanted it peaceful. We wanted serenity. We talked about water. We talked about a place that we could go.

DAVIS: Each of the 184 memorial benches will bear the name of one person who died that day, including Janice Punches' husband, Jack.

PUNCHES: His name will be there. My husband's name will be there and will be remembered.

DAVIS: Small reflecting pools will light each. The memorial, organized by the ages of the victims, three to 71.

KEITH KASEMAN, DESIGNER: Built into the experience of walking through the site you will understand there were five children who died that day.

DAVIS: This week, a construction company was hired to turn the family's vision into reality.

MARK KONCHAR, CENTEX PROJECT MANAGER: Those memorial units facing toward the Pentagon are commemorating the lives lost in the Pentagon. And those facing away from the Pentagon are commemorating the lives lost in the airline, that crashed into the side of the Pentagon. DAVIS: But ground-breaking for the memorial has been delayed. So far the families have raised about $1 million, not enough to begin construction.

PUNCHES: It's a scary endeavor. I mean, we're all thinking about it.

DAVIS: The Pentagon is raising money as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think, you know, the generosity of the public -- I think we will do it. It might take us a while. I think we've got a good start. And I think we can do it.

DAVIS: The families say they'll take out a loan if they have to. The memorial, and what happened on that September day nearly two years ago, simply too important to forget. Patti Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Memorial>