CNN Student News Transcript: November 9, 2007
(CNN Student News) — November 9, 2007
Quick Guide
Top Stories - Catch up on some of the stories that are making headlines around the world.
Salute to Veterans - Meet some Maine residents who are giving U.S. troops a warm welcome home.
Students Salute - Check out some student Shoutouts to U.S. veterans who are serving overseas.
Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. I’m Carl Azuz. Welcome to a special edition of CNN Student News. Now, before we begin our salute to veterans, let’s check out some of the other stories that are making news today.
Top Stories
AZUZ: Parliamentary elections are back on the calendar in Pakistan. Earlier this week, President Pervez Musharraf suspended the country’s constitution and said that vote, which was scheduled for January, could be delayed for up to a year. But several of the country’s allies, including the U.S., have been putting the pressure on. They want Musharraf to reschedule. And yesterday, Musharraf announced that he had.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTANI PRESIDENT: The issue of elections, there is no doubt in my mind elections must be held as soon as possible. Now that we have calculated all the actions, elections in Pakistan must be held before 15 February, 2008 latest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Back in the U.S. now, Congress overrode a veto from President Bush for the first time since he took office. The milestone move led to the passage of a new water bill that authorizes $23 billion in new projects. When President Bush rejected it last week, he said that the 900 programs in the law were just too costly and would put a heavy burden on the Army Corps of Engineers. But with at least a two-thirds majority, both the House and Senate disagreed, and they voted to override the veto.
And speaking of water, crews are trying to clean some up in Northern California. A container ship struck part of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Wednesday morning, and spilled nearly 60,000 gallons of oil into the water. About 8,000 gallons have been recovered. Officials say the collision didn’t cause any structural damage to the bridge, but they did close down several beaches in the area because of the spill.
Next, we’ve got a story from Alabama that a lot of you guys can probably relate to. A student at a junior high school there gave her friend a hug, and the school gave her detention. The thing is, there’s a code of conduct that says some public displays of affection, including embraces like hugs, are not allowed. School officials say they were just following the rules. Now, the student served her punishment, but she does want the school to reconsider the policy.
Promo
AZUZ: Now, those are a few of the stories making headlines today. But each Friday, we put together a Newsquiz on some of the topics we’ve covered throughout the whole week right here on our show. Why don’t you see how your news knowledge stacks up? Head to our Web site, CNNStudentNews.com, and check out the free resource today!
Salute to Veterans
AZUZ: Every year at this time, America celebrates the men and women of its armed forces and their service to the country. In his Veterans Day proclamation, President Bush said that the holiday is dedicated to the extraordinary Americans who protected our freedoms in years past and to those who protect it today. Now, as we begin our salute to veterans, let’s learn a little bit about the history of this special day.
Fast Facts
AZUZ: Time for some Fast Facts. What’s now known as Veterans Day originally started out as a holiday to honor World War I veterans. Fighting in that conflict stopped in 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which is why the holiday is held on November 11th. World War I was also known as the Great War or the war to end all wars. But World War II, which the U.S. entered in 1941, required an even greater mobilization of U.S. troops, the greatest ever, in fact. So, in 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation to make November 11th Veterans Day, a time to recognize all American veterans, regardless of the war in which they fought. Veterans Day honors their love of their country, their patriotism and their willingness to serve and make sacrifices for the common good.
Shoutout
GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today’s Shoutout goes out to Mrs. Palmer’s English classes at Robert G. Cole High School in Fort Sam Houston, Texas! Veterans Day was originally known as what holiday? If you think you know it, shout it out! Was it: A) Armistice Day, B) Memorial Day, C) Soldiers Day or D) Presidents Day? You’ve got three seconds — GO! Armistice Day was the original name for Veterans Day. That’s your answer and that’s your Shoutout!
Salute to Veterans
AZUZ: And this is kind of cool: That Shoutout was actually dedicated to a school that’s actually named after a veteran who served in France during World War II. Now as you know, many members of the U.S. military are fighting overseas right now. And as Robin Meade tells us, a group of people in Maine decided that when the troops come back home, they should get a very warm welcome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN MEADE, CNN ANCHOR: At Bangor International Airport in northern Maine, boisterous applause for arriving passengers is far from unusual. Old Glory is a common sight, and there are plenty of tears and hugs.
BILL KNIGHT, MAINE TROOP GREETERS: What we decided to do was greet the troops when they came back from the battlefield.
MEADE: Ever since the first Gulf War, Bill Knight and the Maine Troop Greeters have been giving soldiers a welcome home. By now, over half a million soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been received with cheers, gratitude and firm handshakes.
GREETER: Thanks for serving.
MEADE: These efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
COL. ANDRE F. PIGGEE, 15TH SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE, 1ST CAVALRY DIV.: It’s heartwarming and it’s thrilling to come through and to be greeted in such warm fashion. We’ve just finished up 15 months’ deployment in Iraq, and this is our first, [cheers and applause] this is our first stop back in the United States.
MEADE: Mary Wiechniak of Connecticut waits anxiously with other family members for her son’s return home. Smiles and laughter mingle with tears.
MARY WIECHNIAK: There’s nothing like seeing him come home safely, because I think of all the parents who didn’t get to see their sons come home and, just so emotional.
MEADE: Bangor is well known among the soldiers for its hospitality.
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR MARK JOSEPH, U.S. ARMY: All the soldiers in the armed forces know when they pass through Maine, we always know we can get a great welcome. This is my fifth time coming through here, and it’s always a pleasure that you’re always greeted by all these great folks here.
MEADE: And the gratitude is returned in kind. Janet and Randy Kluj still have a son in Iraq.
JANET KLUJ: We’re proud of all the men and women who devote themselves to our country.
RANDY KLUJ: We send this salute to him and all the other soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors serving in Iraq.
MEADE: Robin Meade, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Students Salute
AZUZ: Great report, there. Well, we asked you guys to send in Salute the Troops I-Reports and you certainly came through for us! Thank you very much for writing in. Now, we wanted to highlight a few of the classes that submitted videos and photos saluting veterans this week. So, to start us off, here are some of Mr. Koczot’s classes from Broad Creek Middle School in North Carolina!
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STUDENTS: We are 6th grade students in Mr. Koczots’s 1st period Social Studies class, and we want to recognize Veterans Day.
STUDENTS: We are 6th graders at Broad Creek Middle School in Newport, North Carolina, and we want to say BCMS supports our troops!
STUDENTS: This November 11th, we support our troops!
STUDENTS: We salute our troops!
Watch more of Mr. Koczot’s classes saluting veterans
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Great going, guys. And here is another class. This one sent in the photo you see. This is Ms. Farrell’s 2nd block Journalism class, saluting soldier Richard Gerhardt. The class is made up of 7th and 8th graders from Cooper Middle School in McLean, Virginia. Since October, the students have e-mailed more than 100 letters to Gerhardt, an Army combat medic stationed in Baghdad.
And finally, here are some 6th, 7th and 8th graders from Onekama Middle School in Onekama, Michigan. They gathered in the gym to show their support for veterans this week. And they especially want to send a Shoutout to Sergeant Michael Bohannan, who’s serving with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait, and medic Chris Nadjowski, who’s serving in Baghdad, Iraq. Sergeant Bohannan’s son Michael and medic Nadjowski’s brother Christopher are students at Onekama Middle.
Goodbye
AZUZ: Now, those are certainly inspiring for us to see. And we know that once some of you see these Shoutouts to our troops, you may be inspired to create one of your own. Well, you can and we hope you will! Teachers, please work with your students, and send in your own Salute to Veterans at our Web site, CNNStudentNews.com! You can see the I-Report link right there on the front page. And again, we thank all of you for your help with this special report! And if you see any veterans this weekend, please be sure to thank them for their service to our country. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! And happy Veterans Day! E-mail to a friend
