On Newswatch, May 28: EU lifts Syria embargo, sparking fears of arms race; High Court won't hear Indiana P. Parenthood case, and more.
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TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH,"
CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA, MORE ON
A EUROPEAN DECISION TO HELP
SUPPLY REBELS WITH WEAPONS.
PLUS, WILD WEATHER ROCKS THE
COUNTRY.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
CONDITIONS THAT COST AT
LEAST THREE PEOPLE THEIR
LIVES.
AND THE STORY OF AN ARMY
OFFICER WHO'S HUSBAND MADE
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT
ON "NEWSWATCH."
GOOD EVENING, I'M MARK
MARTIN.
THE EUROPEAN UNION'S
DECISION TO LIFT ITS ARMS
EMBARGO ON SYRIA IS RAISING
CONCERNS OF A NEW ARMS RACE
IN THE COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR.
AND IT HAS PROMPTED A
WARNING FROM ISRAEL.
DALE HURD HAS TONIGHT'S TOP
STORY.
Reporter: THE U.S. AND
THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE
FACED A DILEMMA OVER WHETHER
TO ARM THE SYRIAN REBELS,
DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT
INCLUDE al-QAEDA
TERRORISTS THAT HATE THE
U.S. AND EUROPE.
THEY HAVE DECIDED TO END THE
WEAPONS BAN.
THEY FORCED AN END TO THE
EMBARGO AGAINST THE
OPPOSITION OF THE OTHER 25
MEMBERS.
THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS
AGREED TO BRING TO AN END
THE ARMS EMBARGO ON THE
SYRIAN OPPOSITION.
AND TO MAINTAIN OTHER
SANCTIONS ON SYRIA.
Reporter: BUT THE MOVE
DOES NOT MEAN WEAPONS ARE ON
THE WAY.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE NO
PLANS TO SEND ARMS AT THE
MOMENT.
Reporter: THE REBELS
WANT THE WEAPONS NOW.
THERE ARE REPORTS THERE ARE
STOCKS OF GUNS AND AMMO ARE
DRYING UP, BUT IT COULD BE
MONTHS BEFORE THEY SEE ANY
SHIPMENT.
WE'RE AFRAID THE DELAY OF
THE LIFTING OF THE EMBARGO
WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT
ON STOPPING THE DIE GRESSION
DIGRESSION AND THE KILLING
IN SYRIA.
Reporter: RUSSIA
BLASTED THE DECISION, AND
SAID IT WILL SUPPLY THE
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT WITH
ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.
AND THAT PROMPTED ISRAEL TO
WARN IT WOULD ATTACK ANY
SUCH SHIPMENT.
JOHN MCCAIN SPENT ABOUT TWO
HOURS IN SYRIA, AND MET WITH
ABOUT 10 TO 15 REBEL
COMMANDERS.
McCAIN FAVORS PROVIDING
ARMS TO REBEL FORCES IN
SYRIA, AND CREATION OF A
NO-FLY ZONE.
DALE HURD, CBN NEWS.
Mark: FOR MORE ON THIS
SITUATION IN SYRIA, WE TURN
NOW TO RYAN MORROW, THE
NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST
FOR CLARIONPROJECT.ORG.
DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD
IDEA TO ARM THE REBELS, OR
WILL THIS JUST LEAD TO
WEAPONS FALLING INTO THE
HANDS OF THE SUPREME
EXTREMISTS.
I THINK IT IS BAD TO ARM
THE REBELS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
MOST OF THE REBELS ARE
JIHADISTS RIGHT NOW, AND
THAT'S BECAUSE THE MODERATES
ON THE GROUND, THAT FIRST
AFFECTED AND LAUNCHED THE
CIVIL WAR AGAINST THE ASSAD
DICTATORSHIP WERE ASKING FOR
HELP FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, AND SAID IF YOU
DO NOT HELP US, EXTREME IT
IS AR EXTREME --ISTS ARE --
EXTREMISTS WILL TAKE HOLD
AND THAT'S THE SITUATION
WE'RE IN NOW.
IT MAKES FOR A FANCY
HEADLINE.
I THINK IT WILL BE
ENCOURAGING TO THE REBELS.
HE MET WITH THE MORE SECULAR
REBELS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN
SAYING, WHERE IS THE UNITED
STATES?
DO THEY EVEN CARE ABOUT OUR
CAUSE?
I THINK OVER ALL IT WAS A
POSITIVE THING WHAT JOHN
MCCAIN DID, BUT I WORRY
ABOUT ANY POLICY SHIFT THAT
MAY BE COMING INTO PLAY THAT
DOESN'T DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN IT LAMISTS AND
NON-ISLAMISTS.
AND THAT'S DANGEROUS.
Mark: WHAT KIND OF
THREAT DOES IT POSE TO
ISRAEL?
IT IS A MASSIVE THREAT TO
ISRAEL.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO
SIDES FIGHTING EACH OTHER
THAT BOTH HATE ISRAEL.
YOU HAVE THE ASSAD
DICTATORSHIP, WHICH IS A
PUPPET OF IRAN, THAT COULD
DECIDE THAT A FIGHT WITH
ISRAEL WOULD BE IN ITS
INTEREST, TO TRY AND RALLY
THE COUNTRY BEHIND IT.
SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
YOU HAVE THE REBELS, WHO
WHEN THEY GAIN A FOOTHOLD,
THE JIHADISTS ELEMENTS ARE
GOING TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO
ISRAEL WHEN THEY'RE DONE
FIGHTING ASSAD, AND MAYBE
EVEN BEFORE THAT, BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVE THAT IS THEIR
GOD-ORDAINED DUTY.
AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE WEAPONS STOCKPILES, AND
THE EXPERTISE FOR THOSE
WEAPONS, GETTING LOOSE.
AND THERE ARE A LOT
AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WITH A
PAYCHECK.
Mark: QUICKLY, DO YOU
SEE AN END IN SIGHT TO THIS
BRUTAL WAR?
NO.
THE POOL OF BLOOD IS JUST
GOING TO CONTINUE TO
INCREASE BECAUSE YOU HAVE
JIHADISTS FIGHTING AGAINST
THE ASSAD REGIME.
WE DON'T HAVE A MODERATE
ALTERNATIVE WE CAN SUPPORT
RIGHT NOW, AND SO OUR POLICY
HAS TO BE FOCUSED ON
CHANGING THAT SO THERE IS A
THIRD ALTERNATIVE.
Mark: ALL RIGHT.
RYAN MARROW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INSIGHTS.
THANK YOU.
Mark: WHAT DID U.K.
INTELLIGENCE KNOW ABOUT
SUSPECTS IN THE DEADLY
ATTACK ON A BRITISH
SOLDIER?
THAT'S WHAT BRITISH
PARLIAMENT WANTS TO KNOW.
AN INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IS
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
CASE.
TWO SUSPECTS HAD BEEN KNOWN
TO THEM FOR A WHILE, LEADING
SOME COULD QUESTION IF MORE
COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO
PREVENT THE SUSPECTED TERROR
ATTACK.
MEANWHILE, BRITAIN'S
GOVERNMENT IS SETTING UP A
TERRORISM TASKFORCE TO
TACKLE EXTREMISTS.
THE PANEL WILL CONSIDER IF
THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS NEW
POWERS TO CLAMP DOWN ON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO
PROMOTE RADICAL MESSAGES.
NEW YORK OFFICIALS AND THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ARE AT
ODDS OVER A SECURITY PLAN TO
PROTECT THE STATUE OF
LIBERTY AGAINST TERRORIST
THREATS.
RAYMOND KELLY AND SENATOR
SCHUMER WANTS VISITORS TO
VISIT SECURITY SCREENING
AFTER BOARDING BOATS FROM
LOWER MANHATTAN OR NEW
JERSEY.
PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE
PRESCREENED WITH METAL
DETECTORS AT THE DEPARTURE
DOCK.
IT HAS BEEN CLOSED EVER
SINCE SUPER STORM SANDY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA TOURED THE
JERSEY SHORE, GETTING A
FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE
PROGRESS MADE SINCE SANDY
HIT LAST OCTOBER.
THE STORM CAUSED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.
NOW SEVEN MONTHS LATER, MUCH
OF THE JERSEY SHORE IS ONCE
AGAIN OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
THE PRESIDENT PRAISED THE
HARD WORK OF CREWS AND
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HELPED
TO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
President Obama: YOU
ARE STRONGER THAN THE
STORM.
AFTER ALL YOU'VE DEALT WITH,
AFTER ALL YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH, THE JERSEY SHORE IS
BACK AND IT IS OPEN FOR
BUSINESS.
AND THEY WANT ALL AMERICANS
TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE READY
TO WELCOME YOU HERE.
Mark: HUNDREDS OF SUN
BATHERS FILLED BEACHES OVER
THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
A THIRD OF THE MONEY RAISED
BY THE RED CROSS TO HELP
VICTIMS OF SUPE SUPER STORM
SANDY HAS NOT BEEN SPENT.
MORE THAN $300 MILLION WAS
DONATED TO SANDY RELIEF, AND
ROUGHLY $110 MILLION IS
STILL UNSPENT NEARLY SEVEN
MONTHS LATER.
THE RED CROSS SAYS THE MONEY
WILL HELP ADDRESS NEEDS THAT
WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR
AFTER THE STORM.
CRITICS SAY THE AGENCY
SHOULD GIVE THE MONEY TO
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BETTER
POSITIONED TO HELP VICTIMS.
JUNE IS JUST AROUND THE
CORNER, AND STILL PARTS OF
NEW ENGLAND ARE SEEING
SNOW.
YEP.
OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
ARE FACING FLOODS,
WILDFIRES, AND POSSIBLY MORE
TORNADOES.
EPHRAIM GRAHAM BRINGS US
THIS LOOK AT AMERICA'S WILD
WEATHER.
Reporter: ALONG MUCH OF
THE EAST COAST, PEOPLE HIT
THE BEACHES, TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF SUNNY SKIES AND
WARM WEATHER.
IT IS JUST AWESOME.
Reporter: BUT IN PARTS
OF THE NORTHEAST, IT WAS
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
THE UNOFFICIAL START TO
SUMMER BRINGING MORE THAN
THREE FEET OF SNOW.
IT WASN'T COLD THAT KEPT
PEOPLE FROM BARBECUING IN
IOWA, BUT MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF
RAIN.
FLASHFLOODING MADE IT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO
EVEN LEAVE THEIR HOMES
DURING THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
WE WAS HOPING TO HAVE
SOME GOOD TIME DOWN HERE.
WE USUALLY GO OUT IN THE
BOATS.
Reporter: WHEN YOU
THINK OF SPRING, YOU THINK
OF EXTREME WEATHER.
WE HAD EXTREME WEATHER LAST
SPRING.
IT WAS HOT.
THIS SPRING IT HAS BEEN
COOL.
AND IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS,
IT HAS BEEN WET.
Reporter: THERE WERE
MORE THAN 200 SEVERE WEATHER
REPORTS THIS WEEKEND ALONE.
IN SAN ANTONIO, THREE PEOPLE
DIED IN POWERFUL FLOODING,
AND AT LEAST 130 PEOPLE HAD
TO BE RESCUED.
AND OUT IN CALIFORNIA,
WILDFIRES FORCED DOZENS OF
RESIDENTS AND CAMPERS TO
CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY IN
SHELTERS.
OFFICIALS SAY A
QUICK-SPREADING WILDFIRE
BROKE OUT IN THE LOS PEDRES
NATIONAL FOREST.
THREE WATER TENDERS,
THREE PATROLS, WE HAVE SIX
AIR TANKERS, FOUR
HELICOPTERS, AND THREE
CREWS.
Reporter: AND THE
MIDWEST FACES MORE SEVERE
WEATHER THIS WEEK.
FORECASTERS SAY THERE COULD
BE MORE TORNADOES.
PARTS OF OKLAHOMA HIT
HARDEST LAST WEEK ARE ONCE
AGAIN BRACING FOR MORE.
EPHRAIM GRAHAM, CBN NEWS.
Mark: IN OTHER NEWS,
THE SUPREME COURT IS
REFUSING TO HEAR A CASE THAT
COULD HAVE HELPED DEFUND
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN
INDIANA.
THE HIGH COURT DECIDED NOT
TO TAKE ON A LOWER COURT
RULING.
ABORTION OPPONENTS WERE
TRYING TO OPPOSE A LAW
BANNING ALL MEDICAID MONEY
FROM GOING TO ABORTION
PROVIDERED LIKE PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
A SEVENTH SCIRK CIRCUIT
COURT OF APPEALS BLOCKED THE
APPEAL.
THE SUPREME COURT RULED
TODAY TO LET THAT DECISION
STAND.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL CANNOT
INVESTIGATE HIMSELF OR HIS
OFFICE'S ROLE IN SPYING ON
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTERS.
THE PRESIDENT ORDERED ERIC
HOLDER TO LEAD A REVIEW OF
THE SCANDAL.
SEVERAL SENATORS CLAIM THERE
IS CONFLICT OF INTEREST, BUT
STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING FOR
A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.
YOU CANNOT INVESTIGATE
YOURSELF.
AND I THINK IT IS A TOTAL
CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
ALLOWING THE VERY PERSON
THAT AUTHORIZED THE TWO
THINGS THAT WE ARE VERY
AWARE OF TODAY TO
INVESTIGATE WHETHER OR NOT
HE DID THAT APPROPRIATELY IS
INAPPROPRIATE.
IT IS A QUESTION OF
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
SOMEONE WORKING FOR OUR
GOVERNMENT ON OUR SIDE
VIOLATED THEIR OATH AND
DISCLOSED THAT INFORMATION
TO THE PRESS.
WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT DO,
IF IN FACT THAT DISCLOSURE
COULD ENDANGER OUR MILITARY
FORCES OR THOSE WHO ARE
COOPERATING WITH US TO FIGHT
TERRORISM.
Mark: NEW YORK SENATOR
CHUCK SHUMER SAID THE SYSTEM
IS CLEARLY BROKEN.
AND HE AND SENATOR LINDSAY
GRAHAM WILL REIMPOSE THEIR
PROPOSAL FOR A SHIELD TO
PROTECT REPORTERS.
COMING UP, A SEPARATION OF
CHURCH AND STATE, AND
GRADUATION SPEECHES.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR SOME HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS.
PLAIRMT WELCOME
Mark: WELCOME BACK.
SOME GRADUATING SENIORS AT A
KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL TOOK
PART IN A STUDENT-LED
PRAYER.
LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS PRESIDENT CLOSED HIS
PRAYER IN JESUS' NAME, AND
MANY AUDIENCE MEMBERS SAID
AMEN.
STUDENTS AND PARENTS THEN
GAVE HIM A STANDING
OVATION.
THE ADVOCATE MESSENGER
NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT SIX
STUDENTS, INCLUDING AT LEAST
ONE ATHEIST, HAD OBJECTED TO
THE PRAYER.
THE PRINCIPLE SAYS FACULTY
CANNOT PRAY PUBLICLY ON
SCHOOL GROUNDS OR
SCHOOL-RELATED FUNCTIONS,
BUT STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO
PRAY.
AND HE SAYS HE PRAYS
PERSONALLY FOR EVERY STUDENT
EVERY DAY.
THAT TENSION BETWEEN WHAT IS
LEGAL AND WHAT IS NOT IS
FELT IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
NATION.
AND MANY SENIORS WANT TO
THANK GOD, BUT MANY SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS WORRY THEY
MIGHT VIOLATE THE SO-CALLED
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND
STATE.
PAUL STRAND EXPLAINS.
Reporter: AT HIGH
SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE GET READY
FOR GRADUATION CEREMONIES,
SOME SENIORS MAY FACE
THREATS OR LAWSUITS IF THEY
MENTION GOD OR THEIR FAITH
DURING GRADUATION SPEECHES.
BUT THE MESSAGE FROM LAWYER
JEFF MATIR IS DON'T BE
AFRAID.
ANY STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN
ASKED TO SPEAK AT GRADUATION
SHOULD KNOW THIS: THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT CANNOT TELL THEM
NOT TO MENTION THEIR
RELIGIOUS FAITH.
Reporter: FOR EXAMPLE
IN 2011, ANGELA HILDENBRAND
FACED THE JUDGE'S THREAT TO
THROW HER IN Y'ALL.
IN JAIL.
AS LIBERTY INSTITUTE'S
JUSTIN BUTTERFIELD SAID THE
APPEALS COURT DISAGREED.
THEY SAID IT IS HER
SPEECH, AND SHE IS ALLOWED
TO SAY WHATEVER SHE WANTS.
YOU CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
HER MESSAGE JUST BECAUSE IT
IS RELIGIOUS.
IT IS IN JESUS' NAME I
PRAY, AMEN.
Reporter: MATIR SAYS
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
NEED TO BACK OFF STUDENTS
WHO SHARE THEIR FAITH.
THEY CAN'T TELL THAT TO
PRAY OR NOT TO PRAY OR TO
MENTION OR NOT MENTION
JESUS.
Reporter: IF STUDENTS
ARE THREATENED, THEY SHOULD
GO TO THE AMERICAN CENTER
FOR LAW AND JUSTICE OR THE
LIBERTY INSTITUTE --
BECAUSE WE WILL FIGHT FOR
THEM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
SITUATIONS THAT LOOK BAD,
BUT WHEN CHRISTIANS STAND
YOU AN UP AND FIGHT FOR
WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, WE WIN
IN THE COURTS.
Reporter: LIBERTY
INSTITUTE HERE IN TEXAS HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN ENOUGH
GRADUATION CASES TO LET
STUDENTS KNOW THIS: IN THEIR
GRADUATION SPEECHES, THEY
CAN TALK ABOUT GOD, JESUS,
WHATEVER RELIGIOUS MATTER,
AND THEIR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS CANNOT STOP THEM.
THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR
RELIGIOUS RIGHTS WHEN THEY
ENTER THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR.
PAUL STRAND, CBN NEWS,
REPORTING FROM PLANO,
TEXAS.
Mark: A KENTUCKY MEGA
CHURCH WILL END ITS
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
THAT AFTER THE GROUP
ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY
ALLOWING GAY SCOUTS.
TIM HESTER IS THE PASTOR OF
THE 30,000 MEMBER SOUTHEAST
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN
LOUISVILLE.
HE SAYS THE GAY POLICY IS IS
JUST ONE REASON FOR THE
DECISION.
HE TELLS THE LOUISVILLE
COURIER THAT THE BOY SCOUTS
HAVE BECOME TWO POLARIZING
IN RECENT YEARS, AND THE
CHURCH WOULD HAVE ENDED ITS
SPONSORSHIP NO MATTER WHAT
DECISION THE SCOUTS
REACHED.
HE SAYS THE CHURCH DOES NOT
NEED TO GET CAUGHT IN
DISTRACTIONS AND WANTS
EVERYONE TO LIVE BY BIBLICAL
STANDARDS.
UP NEXT, SEE HOW ONE SOLDIER
CARRIED ON IN SERVICE TO HER
COUNTRY AFTER LOSING HER
HUSBAND.
Mark: MEMORIAL
CEREMONIES WERE HELD ACROSS
THE COUNTRY YESTERDAY.
AMERICANS PAID TRIBUTE TO
THE MANY THOUSANDS WHO PAID
THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN
DEFENSE OF THIS NATION.
IN TONIGHT'S FOCUS REPORT,
LEE WEBB TELLS US THE STORY
OF THE COURAGE AND SACRIFICE
OF THREE CHRISTIAN SERVICE
MEMBERS, AND GOD'S ABILITY
TO HEAL EVEN THE DEEPEST OF
WOUNDS.
Lee: JULY 17, 2004,
LIFE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
BETTER FOR RYAN AND HAYLEY.
THEIR MARRIAGE CULMINATED A
COURTSHIP THAT BEGAN THEIR
SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT.
WE HAD THE SAME CLASS
TOGETHER.
AND HE WAS PRETTY DREAMY
ACROSS CLASS.
MY FRIEND ENCOURAGED HIM TO
ASK ME TO DANCE LESSONS.
Reporter: THEY WOULD
BECOME WHAT ONE FRIEND AT
THE ACADEMY CALLED A
HOLLYWOOD COUPLE.
THE FAIRY TALE CONTINUED
DURING THEIR MEDITERRANEAN
HONEYMOON.
BUT BOTH WERE SOON PREPARING
FOR DEPLOYMENTS, HAYLEY TO
AFGHANISTAN, AND RYAN TO
IRAQ WITH THE 82nd
AIRBORNE DIVISION.
Lee: I'M SURE YOU WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
I WAS.
AT THAT TIME IT WAS THE
HEIGHT OF THE SURGE IN
IRAQ.
Lee: HAYLEY'S FEARS
BECAME REALITY LESS THAN
THREE MONTHS INTO RYAN'S
DEEMPLOYMENT.
DEPLOYMENT.
HER COMMANDING OFFICER GAVE
HER THE NEWS.
HE CAME IN, AND THERE WAS
A BOX OF KLEENEX AND THE
CHAPLAIN IN THERE.
AND HE SAT ME DOWN AND
OPENLY, DIRECTLY, RYAN HAS
BEEN KILLED IN COMBAT.
HE SAID HE HAD BEEN KILLED
BY SMALL ARMS FIRE.
Lee: HAYLEY PREPARED TO
HEAD HOME IMMEDIATELY, BUT
SHE WAS IN SUCH A REMOTE
PART OF AFGHANISTAN, AND THE
WEATHER SO BAD, THAT IT TOOK
HER 10 DAYS TO MAKE IT BACK
TO THE STATES FOR RYAN'S
FUNERAL.
SHE WENT FROM BEING A
SOLDIER TO A GRIEVING
WIDOW.
JUST SEEING HIM
UNDERNEATH THE FLAG -- IT
WAS VERY SURREAL.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS
HAPPENING.
Lee: CAPTAIN RYAN
DENNISON WAS LAID TO REST AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
NOVEMBER 29th, 2006.
HAYLEY DISCOVERED THE LAST
ENTRY IN A JOURNAL THAT RYAN
HAD KEPT IN THE WEEKS
LEADING UP TO HIS
DEPLOYMENT.
"I AM SO THANKFUL THAT
GOD HAS BLESSED WITH ME SO
MUCH.
IF CATASTROPHE STRIKES IN
IRAQ, I WILL STILL FEEL SO
VERY BLESSED BECAUSE I HAVE
LIVED THE EQUIVALENT OF FOUR
MEN'S LIVES IN MY SHORT 24
YEARS ON THIS PLANET.
GOD BLESSED ME WITH A
WONDERFUL FAMILY, PARENTS TO
ADOPT ME, AND MOST OF ALL
WITH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, MY
COMPANION AND VERY BEST
FRIEND."
Lee: THE ARMY GAVE
HAYLEY DECISION OF STAYING
HOME, BUT IN TWO SHORT
MONTHS, SHE PUT ON A BRAVE
FACE AND DEPLOYED AGAIN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO SHOW OTHERS AND
MYSELF THAT WHEN YOU GET
KNOCKED DOWN, YOU HAVE TO
GET BACK UP.
GOD STILL HAD A PURPOSE FOR
ME.
Reporter: SHE PERFORMED
SO WELL, SHE WAS SELECTED TO
SERVE ON DAVI DAVID
PETRAEUS' TEAM IN IRAQ.
SHE HAD EARNED NUMEROUS
AWARDS, INCLUDING TWO BRONZE
STARS.
BUT GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HAYLEY
EXTENDED BEYOND HER MILITARY
CAREER TO HEALING THE WOUNDS
OF LOSS.
A CAPTAIN APPROACHED HAYLEY
TWO YEARS AFTER DAVE'S
DEATH.
HE RECOGNIZED MY NAME AND
HE HAD HEARD OF RYAN'S
DEATH, AND HE CAME UP TO ME
AND SAID I'M SO SORRY TO
HEAR ABOUT RYAN.
HOW ARE YOU DOING KIND OF A
THING.
Reporter: THEIR
RELATIONSHIP BEGAN AS PURELY
PROFESSIONAL, BUT A
FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPED, AND
THEY FOUND THEMSELVES
PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER IN
THE WAR ZONE.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO
HAYLEY?
WAS IT AN IMMEDIATE
ATTRACTION FOR YOU?
I CERTAINLY THOUGHT SHE
WAS BEAUTIFUL, BUT I
WASN'T -- CERTAINLY WASN'T
TRYING TO CROSS THAT LINE
INITIALLY.
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT
TO EVEN ALLOW MYSELF TO
THINK LIKE THAT AGAIN.
Reporter: PARTICULARLY
WITH ANOTHER SOLDIER.
YEAH, WITH ANOTHER
SOLDIER, THAT I'M JUST
PRAYING WITH NOT TOO LONG
AGO FOR BEING IN DIRECT
CONFLICT, AND BEING SHOT AT
EVERY DAY.
BUT I THINK GOD PLACED HIM
IN MY LIFE AT THAT TIME FOR
A REASON.
Reporter: AND THAT
REASON BECAME CLEAR WHEN
THEY DISCOVERED THEY HAD
FALLEN IN LOVE.
BEFORE LONG, THEY WERE
INTRODUCING EACH OTHER TO
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THEY ALSO RECEIVED THE FULL
BLESSING OF RYAN'S PARENTS.
AND ON MAY 24th, 2009,
DAVE AND HAYLEY WERE
MARRIED.
GOD HAS PUT THESE
FEELINGS IN MY HEART, AND
EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR
RELATIONSHIP, FROM THE TIME
THAT WE STARTED UNTIL NOW,
HAS FELT RIGHT.
AND THAT WE'RE GOOD FOR EACH
OTHER.
SHE UNDERSTANDS A LOT OF
THINGS I'VE BEEN THROUGH,
AND I TRY
TO UNDERSTAND A
LOT OF THINGS THAT SHE HAS
BEEN THROUGH AS WELL.
Reporter: THEY NOW HAVE
TWO SONS, AND HAYLEY IS OUT
OF THE ARMY, SERVING AS A
FULL-TIME WIFE AND MOM.
BUT RYAN'S MEMORY IS NEVER
FAR AWAY.
SHE AND DAVE HONOR HIM WITH
PICTURES IN THEIR HOME.
AND HAYLEY HELPS RAISE MONEY
FOR A SCHOLARSHIP IN HIS
MEMORY.
LOOKING BACK, YOU KNOW,
15 YEARS, I WOULDN'T CHANGE
ANYTHING.
I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T CHANGE
GOD'S WILL.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT
HAS PLAYED OUT HERE.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN
HARD, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN
BEAUTIFUL.
I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T CHANGE
THE TIME THAT I HAD WITH
RYAN.
I CHERISH IT, AND I CHERISH
THE MEMORIES, BUT I ALSO AM
HAPPY WITH MY LIFE NOW.
Mark: UP NEXT, HOW
CHICAGO IS HELPING SOME OF
OKLAHOMA'S FOUR-LEGGED
VICTIMS AFTER THE
DEVASTATING TORNADO.
Mark: THANKS FOR
STAYING WITH US.
SOME VERY SPECIAL PETS
ARRIVED AT CHICAGO'S NO-KILL
ANIMAL SHELTER RECENTLY.
PAUL'S CHICAGO OPENED THEIR
DOORS TO MORE THAN 75 DOGS
AND CATS ORPHANED BY THE
TORNADO IN OKLAHOMA.
THE ANIMALS WERE STAYING AT
AN OVERCROWDED OKLAHOMA
FACILITY AND THEY WERE AT
RISK OF BEING EUTHANIZED.
MORE THAN 350 PEOPLE
VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE PART IN
THE RESCUE EFFORT, DRIVING
ALL WEEKEND TO PICK UP THE
DISPLACED PETS.
THEY'RE ALL JUST
WONDERFUL ANIMALS, AND ARE
VERY, VERY LUCKY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
COULD OPEN THIS UP SO THE
ANIMALS DISPLACED FROM THE
TORNADO COULD BE BROUGHT TO
THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
SO THEIR OWNERS COULD COME
AND FIND THEM.
THEY'RE ALL BEING SEEN BY
OUR VETERINARIANS, AND
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPAYED
OR NEUTERED AND GIVEN ANY
VACATION NATIONS
VACCINATIONS THEY MAY
REQUIRE.
Mark: MANY OF THE
ANIMALS WILL BE UP FOR
ADOPTION STARTING THIS
WEEK.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PET
THERE, A BLACK LAB.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "NEWSWATCH."
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