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CNN SUNDAY MORNING

Two Muslim Men Kicked off Commercial Flight; Pakistan Reacts to bin Laden Tapes Released by U.S.; Rebuilding After the Flood

Aired May 8, 2011 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good Sunday morning. Well, they were screened, then screened again, but still not allowed to fly. Two Muslim men telling CNN now about being kicked off a commercial flight without explanation.

Also, yes, it is Mother's Day, and on this Mother's Day a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan will get to see her children who are in Jacksonville, Florida. How? We're going to hook them up right here on our newscast, and you'll see it.

Hello to you all on this Sunday. I'm T.J. Holmes, happy Mother's Day to you all and a special hello to our military men and women watching us on the armed forces network around the world.

Let's start now with the new videos of Osama Bin Laden, fascinating stuff we are starting to get to see, they are part, these videos of the large amount of materials, information taken from that compound after his death. Unlike the pictures of a dead Osama Bin Laden that the U.S. Government did not want out, the U.S. Government is sharing these images with the world. CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr takes us through the new images and the message The White House is sending with this video release.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: T.J., the message is Osama Bin Laden is dead and this is what he really was like. It's the Osama Bin Laden you've never seen, huddled in front of a television in a modestly furnished room, intently watching broadcasts of himself. This is Bin Laden, obsessed with monitoring and controlling his image, a U.S. Intelligence Official told reporters. In more formal tapes he dyed his beard black projecting the image he wanted the world to see, the feared leader of Al-Qaeda.

FRANCES FRAGOS TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: I think the overall message is the U.S. Government picked these very carefully, very deliberately to show they're in control and that Bin Laden was vain, he was not in very good circumstances, and that they are now in control of his image.

STARR: The U.S. Government distributed a portion of five videos taken from the compound. The U.S. stripped off the audio. The official said the U.S. doesn't want to be broadcasting Bin Laden messages. The official said the videos, thumb drives, disks and documents taken from the compound make up the single largest collection of terrorist materials ever seized. It's all being analyzed for clues about new threats. Releasing the video is part of the Obama Administration's effort to show material that could have only been taken from the raid. The armoire on this tape identified as being from inside the compound. If some doubt he is dead the Administration says the DNA match had a one in 11.8 quadrillion chance of being wrong.

This video begins with the title, "From Osama Bin Laden to the American people." The U.S. believes this was made between October ninth and November fifth of last year around the time of the American midterm elections. In it Bin Laden criticizes the U.S. The U.S. conclusion about Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader was far from a figure head in the weeks and months before he was killed. The U.S. Intelligence Official noted that, quote, "he was an active player making the recent operation even more essential for our nation's security."

TOWNSEND: Clearly he had views on operational ideas and operational plans and he was about trying to send, use these couriers and thumb drives that were captured in order to send his directions, his ideas back to operatives who would actually execute those plans.

STARR: But for an American audience at least the videos show Osama Bin Laden's vulnerability, a wrinkled sheet for a background, a missed cue during a taping and a room with hanging wires and few furnishings, where an old man stares at a television.

So what's next? A U.S. Official says they do believe that Al- Qaeda has been damaged by the death of Osama Bin Laden, but they are carefully watching to see who emerges as the next leader of the terrorist network. T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Barbara Starr. Who could be the next leader? It may be this man, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, he is known as Osama Bin Laden's top lieutenant. He's often seen next to Bin Laden in videos but his whereabouts at this point still unknown. He's presumed to be still alive and perhaps best positioned to take over leadership of Al-Qaeda.

We turn now to that flooding we have been seeing all along the Mississippi River. The flood gates are all closed in Memphis. Let me explain the significance of that. The city has 30 of those flood gates to protect it from rising floodwaters. In its history Memphis has only closed one of the 30 flood gates. Now they're all closed trying to control that flooding.

Meanwhile, firefighters called into a mobile home park to help residents there evacuate as the water continues to rise. Right now the water is just about 18 inches short of hitting the high water mark. That mark set back in 1937.

Now we are hearing that the crest is coming sooner than originally expected. They thought it was going to be Wednesday. Now we're told it's Tuesday. That means they've got less time to get ready. Memphis has been a focal point of a lot of the attention, but it's a small part of the overall story. States along the River to the north also underwater and the surge is moving south and even more cities are in harm's way. But there is a plan to head off some of the water in Louisiana. Let's say hello to Alexandria Steele, she's in our Severe Weather Center. Is this one going to work?

ALEXANDRIA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: All right. Let's talk about the old plan, last week, we talked about Cairo, Illinois. The plan was flood Cairo, Illinois, of 2,800 residents or flood 130,000 acres of farm land. They chose to do the later. That was a plan what to do with the water flowing farther north. We're downstream now from the Mississippi. This is the Mississippi River you can see here, this is the Gulf of Mexico. This is what's called the Morganza floodway and the Bonacarry spillway.

Now the important thing with this. These are all tools to prevent against flooding. You can see the tentacles of the water. This is the plan, I'll show you what we mean by this. What we're talking about is this Morganza floodway and the spillway. First of all this is a spillway, what it is in essence, it's like an exit off the highway. Floodway, spillway, any way to move the water and prevent flooding. That's the plan.

And you can see what this looks like. You're driving on the highway, you take an exit off. This is an exit ramp to move the water in one direction. All right, so let me show you now what the plan is. Opening the floodway, whether to do it or not to do it, they're still talking about the possibility. It's been done once before but not for this reason.

So this Morganza floodway, opening it and here's why. It's designed for flood control. It's going to lower the river along Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but it will flood other areas similar to the scenario in Cairo. That's if it does open. If it doesn't open, the water levels in New Orleans could reach 19.5 feet according to the National Weather Service. This is a half a foot from the top of the floodwalls. So it's very precarious and very close. But T.J. it's a lesser of two evils, whether to do it or not to do it and certainly, regardless, someone will be impacted.

HOLMES: A lot of bad choices for folks along the Mississippi. Alexandria, good to have you with us this weekend. Thank you. We'll be talking with her plenty this this morning.

All right. Eight minutes past the hour. Now as you know it is Mother's Day, a lot of people going to go out and celebrating, having a nice lunch, brunch or dinner, spending family time together. In the south it's going to be a little different for a lot of folks. Some mother's are having to spend this day in shelters. Victims of the devastating tornadoes that tore through the south a little over a week ago.

Our Reynolds Wolf is in a neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. There for us this morning. Reynolds, good morning to you. And I think one of the stories you were bringing to us is it's one thing if the mother has to spend the day in the shelter but can you imagine this being your first Mother's Day and spending it in a shelter?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes it is a very gloomy prospect indeed. At the same time T.J. there are a lot of things going on, a lot of people that happen to be in the shelters. Although they have lost their homes, they still have their families intact, they're certainly happy about that. Where we happen to be this morning is Pratt City, Alabama. We were is Tuscaloosa yesterday and Pratt City is one of those places where it's just been ravaged by the monstrous tornado that came through.

Despite the wreckage we have behind me and throughout this part of the world, we have some things that are popping up, including these FEMA shelters, this was established earlier this week, now up. People across the region are not only going to this one, 50,000 are seeking federal assistance and one is a new mother, a lady by the name of Leicia Fairchild, she has a new son, He is 9 weeks old and she's celebrating her first Mother's Day with mixed emotions.

LEICIA FAIRCHILD, TORNADO VICTIM: I look and I seen the tornado out the door, and we got rain and dove under the sink and the whole house lifted up and started to go with the wind and we were praying to God the whole time. All I could think about was my baby. Before the tornado is over I'm up, the house all down the hill, I'm trying to see my mom's house, trying to see if it's still there and the whole roof is gone and windows are busted. I was like oh my God, Christian, Christian!

WOLF: You were not around the baby during the tornado?

FAIRCHILD: No.

WOLF: What was going through your mind?

FAIRCHILD: All I could think is my son, I got to get to my son. They pulled nails out of my feet from where I had to run through my house, we had to climb over a huge tree that done landed our house that was blocking the door. I had to climb over the tree, I was determined to get to my son.

WOLF: That's a pretty great Mother's Day present.

FAIRCHILD: Yes. It really is. He's a blessing. I get to tell him, you lived through a tornado when you was 8 weeks old.

WOLF: So you're not in your home for Mother's Day. What is that like?

FAIRCHILD: It's kind of hard, because I've pictured Mother's Day at home with his father, and happy and everything, and it's not. It's far from happy. I'm in a shelter.

WOLF: She has applied for federal assistance and when the money comes in, what is she going to get? Things she needs most of all, first and foremost a car, she needs transportation to take her son to the hospital for checkups. Another thing she needs is a home because everything else she had, all material possessions are gone. But T.J. the most important thing she has of course is her family, she has her son so certainly many blessings, no question.

HOLMES: Reynolds, one more thing I want to ask you, you've been down there for a while, essentially since the storms hit, almost a week and a half now ago now. Do you see if progress is even the right word now so soon but still activity and movement and help coming in and people getting what they need and we're starting to see real work being done?

WOLF: Absolutely, there is plenty of work being done. In Tuscaloosa many of the storefronts you have tarps up, you've seen a lot of cleanup, the roads are passable in many locations. But again, T.J., this is something that's not going to happen in days or weeks, it could take months and in some locations it could take even years. There's renewed spirit, they are determined, know they're going to rebuild. The state will certainly rebuild parts of the region but it is going to take some time. It's kind of patient but really determined, a good mix there.

HOLMES: All right. Reynolds thanks as always for bringing the stories of some folks needing help and attention for some time. Thanks so much, we'll check in with Reynolds again throughout the morning.

WOLF: You bet.

HOLMES: Also coming up this morning, we were telling you the story yesterday about two Muslim men who were kicked off their flight. Now in 60 seconds I'll explain, they say it's not really the passengers who were uncomfortable with them being on that plane.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 13 minutes past the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Happy Mother's Day to you all. A story we were following for you yesterday on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, the story of two Muslim men who were kicked off of a flight leaving Memphis and heading to Charlotte because they were told someone was uncomfortable with them being on the plane. We are hearing from the two men, two Imams actually, Imam Rahman and Imam Sagul. You're seeing them here as they were greeted by their attorney Friday night, hours after their original flight that they were kicked off of, supposed to land there. They had to take another flight. Both men were taken off the initial flight, but apparently now it was by the order of the pilot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAM MASUDUR RAHMAN, MUSLIM REMOVED FROM FLIGHT: The pilot made an announcement that I have to take back the plane to the gate and he came to the gate after then, the Delta Agent and TSA Agent came to us and said "Sir, we have to check you again". They were very polite, very helpful and we helped them, and we let them check our stuff, our luggage, bag, body, in a few minutes and they said you guys are good, you can go.

When we are entering into the plane, the supervisor, Mr. Russell, he said "Mr. Rahman, sorry, I was pleading to the pilot to let us go with us, in this flight, but he is not allowing you to go". I said, "Can you say the reason, what is the reason?" He said "Okay, I am asking him the reason but he is not giving any reason. I can ask him again". He went in again and he was going with him maybe more than ten minutes. He came back again and said "I'm sorry, he's not giving me any reason."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now it just so happens the Imams are in Charlotte, traveling there for a conference that focused on Islamophobia. Now the airline, Atlantic Southeast Airlines put out a statement. It says, "we take security and safety very seriously and the event is currently under investigation. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Well coming up as well in just a little bit on this CNN SUNDAT MORNING, specifically at 8:30 eastern time we'll focus on our faces of faith, as we do every Sunday, and getting reaction to this story and the killing of Osama Bin Laden from the Muslim American editor of "I speak for myself," a new book that chronicles the story of Muslim American women.

The Mississippi River topping its banks now in Memphis, Tennessee, thousands of people in Tennessee rush to save their homes and just upstream others are coming home to a total loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's late, I don't want to go inside but I need to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: We'll take you on one man's journey as he finally returns home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mitt Romney, you ran a loss in 2008. What makes you think you have a chance this time in?

MITT ROMNEY (R), MASSACHUSETTS: People say a lot of things about Mitt Romney, they say I'm rich and disconnected and a dead fish, they say I look like a villain in a lifetime movie. Look out Meredith Baxter-Birney, I'm going to get you.

SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: The important thing for people to know is I'll be running for president every four years for the rest of my life. It's my Olympics and I intend to win a whole bunch of silvers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, that was from SNL last night, of course spoofing the no shows at last Thursday's GOP Presidential Debate. You might have seen it or might not have seen it, a lot of the bigger names did not show up to that. We'll hear a lot more about the possible contenders in the coming weeks. Senior Deputy Political Director, Paul Steinhauser has more on the week ahead.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, T.J. a new fight in the battle over health care reform. Tuesday the first of the lawsuits against the new measure makes its way to the federal appeals court level. The case will be heard in Richmond, Virginia. The legal war over the controversial law is expected to eventually end up in the Supreme Court.

The same day President Obama heads to El Paso, Texas to speak out on how to fix what it calls the nation's broken immigration system. Illegal immigration is a hot topic and the Spanish Latino are an important and a growing voting group.

DONALD TRUMP: I'm doing great in New Hampshire.

STEINHAUSER: That's where Donald Trump will be on Wednesday, the billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star makes his second trip of the past couple weeks to the state that holds the first primary for the race to The White House. Trump says he'll decide in June if he'll make a bid for the Republican Presidential nomination. And expect Newt Gingrich to make some news this week. A spokesman for the former House Speaker said by the time Gingrich speaks at the Georgia Convention on Friday he'll be a candidate for President. T.J.?

HOLMES: Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser.

Well, did you see this yesterday, history in the making. Everybody is a horse racing fan one day of the year. A 20:1 long shot in Louisville by the name of Animal Kingdom, against all the odds, made it to the winner's circle. Always an extraordinary story at the Kentucky Derby. John Velasquez who jockeyed the horse was supposed to ride Uncle Mo. That horse had to go down with a stomach virus and so you think he was out of luck, well know, listen to this.

He was then asked to ride Animal Kingdom because the person who was supposed to ride that horse ended up with an injury and had to scratch and couldn't be a part of it so it all worked out in the end. But 20:1 long shot, Animal Kingdom made a few nice moves, ended up in the winner's circle. Congratulations, exciting stuff yesterday.

Also exciting stuff last night, kind of, sort of, maybe. Manny Pacquiao, the pound for pound best fighter in the world just got rid of Sugar Shane Mosley last night. Shane didn't really show up but, he had a car accident, Manny Pacquiao had a car accident hours before the fight. His publicist said he was shaken up after his SUV was hit from behind. Of course it didn't bother him that much, he won pretty much every round of the fight, it did go the distance, a unanimous decision and he keeps his WBO Welterweight title.

Also, last night, it seems the Boston Celtics have some light in them but it was a scary moment, that's their point guard who went down last night with a dislocated elbow. If you are squeamish, you don't need to watch this, the left arm goes a direction it's not supposed to go. Here's the thing. He went back, got some treatment, came back in and plays essentially with one arm for the rest of the game. Now the Celtics have pulled even, excuse me, don't let me get ahead of myself, they are now down two-one in the series, Boston winning the game last night but have ground to catch up with the heat.

Also, it seemed like he hit his groove in Toronto. Justin Verlander pitched the second no-hitter of his career yesterday. Could have been even better. He came within inches of a perfect game. He walked one batter in the eighth inning in Detroit's nine-zero win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Did you see these images this week, an image of that top secret stealth helicopter that crashed during the raid of Osama Bin Laden's compound, but if it didn't crash we might have never known it even existed. The story behind the secret aircraft after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, 26 minutes past the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. When that Navy S.E.A.L. team that took out Osama Bin Laden left the compound, they had to leave behind the wreckage of a special helicopter, one we'd never seen before. A state-of-the-art stealth Black Hawk but doing that could come back to haunt the Military. Here now is CNN's Chris Lawrence.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: One of the most shocking things to come out of the attack on Bin Laden's compound was the existence of this secret stealth Black Hawk that no one knew existed. We've talked to former Black Hawk pilots and aviation experts who have taken a look at it and say they've never seen anything like it. They say unlike normal Black Hawks it's not painted olive green but infrared suppression gray and some of the lines are more reminiscent of an F-22. When you eliminate the right angles on an aircraft radar waves can't bounce back. Finally there's sort of a hub cap on the back of its tail rotor that would help suppress its sound.

What happened was, when the S.E.A.L.S. were coming down into the compound it hit, landed on part of the wall. Part of it fell into the compound. The back half fell over the wall. The S.E.A.L.S. bombed and blew up the main portion but part of it got left behind in order to rush it out. Remember, they had Osama Bin Laden's body and were trying to get that out, that was the mission. But now that the tail part is still there and the technology is in the hands of the Pakistanis, there is some worry that the Pakistanis because of a slightly frayed relationship with the U.S. right now could pass that technology on to a third party, and if say Russia or China were to get their hands on it, it could do two things, not only do they adapt it to their own aircraft but come up with ways to defeat that technology and make that stealth capability useless. T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Thanks to Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon.

Coming up, revelations from the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. We will still show you more of that never before seen footage of the former Al-Qaeda leader.

Also we've heard a lot about Navy S.E.A.L.S. in the past few days? One is getting a rare honor. Those details just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Hey. Good morning once again, everybody. Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING on Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to you all. Hope you're having a good one.

Give you the latest now on this new video we're getting of Osama Bin Laden before his death, just one week ago the U.S. government has released five videotapes of the former al Qaeda leader. In some of them, you can see Bin Laden practicing in front of a camera possibly for a tape to be released by al Qaeda. You can also see that in those videos he had dyed his beard black.

But take a look at another one, this one is getting a lot of attention, it shows a visibly gray Bin Laden watching himself on TV. You see him in a small room huddled on the floor, has a blanket around him, watching that small television, bare walls, wires hanging all over the place.

The government released the tapes without any audio. They say they did not want to broadcast his message. These tapes are just a part of a large amount of computer disk, DVDs, other information found at the Bin Laden compound. CIA and FBI now going over all of that material.

So how exactly are the new videos playing out in Pakistan where Bin Laden apparently had been hiding for years?

Our Reza Sayah live for us in Islamabad. Reza, hello to you. Curious to know what is the reaction to seeing Bin Laden like this.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a lot of interest here in Pakistan as well, T.J. This is a man that certainly had significant impact on the lives of millions of Pakistanis and he had certainly impact on the spread of extremism.

These images started airing late Saturday night here in Pakistan and I think they are convincing some skeptics in Pakistan that indeed Bin Laden has been killed. Remember throughout the week, not just here in Pakistan, but across the border in Afghanistan, many were skeptical about the claims of Washington that Bin Laden had been killed in this raid. They said they wanted to see proof, hard evidence.

The Obama administration, of course, wrestled with the notion of releasing what some describe as gruesome pictures of Osama Bin Laden's remains. They decided against that for fear of a violent reprisal. This appears to be a safer way of convincing some people in Pakistan that indeed Bin Laden is dead, but not everyone is convinced.

Some still have questions. Some in Pakistan are pointing to that one particular image where we see Bin Laden sitting on the floor, blanket wrapped around him, watching television. They say it only shows a partial profile of Bin Laden and they say it's difficult to conclude, T.J., that indeed it is him. So, again, that's something that really highlights and underscores the deep mistrust that still exists here in Pakistan for the U.S. government.

But, again, you're starting to see more people convinced and what also helps to convince people is the fact that al Qaeda has now come out and condemned the raid and vowed revenge for Bin Laden's killing.

HOLMES: All right. Interesting to hear reaction from there. Our Reza Sayah for us in Islamabad. Rezah, we appreciate you as always.

And to our viewers, we want to give you a look at some other stories that are making headlines this morning.

First, in Egypt, where at least 10 people are dead and 186 more injured in sectarian clashes outside of Cairo Coptic Christian Church. Look at this here. Officials say the blood shed began over rumors that a Christian woman who converted to Islam was being held inside that church against her will.

Also to Libya now where rebel forces trying to drive long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi from power have suffered a setback in the contested Port City of Misrata. Pro-Gadhafi forces bombarded a key fuel depot there, destroying six containers and caused this massive fire that you're seeing there.

Also now in Maine back here in the U.S., a warship dedicated to fallen Medal of Honor recipient and Navy S.E.A.L. Lieutenant Michael Murphy was christened by his mother. He was killed in the firefight with the Taliban on the mountains of Afghanistan back in 2005. Yesterday would have been Murphy's 35th birthday.

Turning back to the Severe - Severe Weather now, the swollen waters of the Mississippi River gushing downstream bringing flooding and misery to residents farther south. Memphis is the next major city in its path. The Mississippi is expected to crest there as early as Tuesday night, 14 feet above flood stage, and that is happening a day earlier than initially predicted. Thousands of people there have been told to evacuate. And in some parts of Tennessee, entire neighborhoods right now are under water.

Now, many homeowners in the flood's path have already lost just about everything. Many didn't have flood insurance either or their flood damage is not enough for federal aid, it's a tough spot to be in there.

CNN affiliate WPSD caught up with one man in Kentucky when he got the first sight of his damaged home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY JOHNSON, FLOOD VICTIM: Wow. I mean this is devastating. I - I really don't - I didn't expect it to get this high and it's - now that I'm here it's - it's almost breathtaking, you know?

I worked three years to build that car and I just got it finished two weeks before the flood. Man, I don't want to go inside but I need to see what happens here. Still have my floor. It didn't get inside, I guess. That's insulation back here. It did get -

I'm not leaving. This is home for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right. I want to bring in now meteorologist Alexandra Steele here with us this weekend on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING.

Oh, that's just tough to see. I bet some folks got it worse than he did. But still, can you imagine walking into your home seeing that?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And as you walk, you hear the swishing of the water. I mean, you know, it - it's like this wall of water heading south, heading downstream along the Mississippi. And what that man was experiencing so many of you will.

But, you know, we talked about Memphis. Now, the expectation was for the river to crest there on Wednesday. Now, an earlier date, as T.J. said, is Tuesday. The crest is 48 feet to give you a little perspective. Major flood stage is at 46. Now, the record from 1937.

Now, one thing about this flooding is in most people's lifetime they have never seen water at this level like that man, who were just looking at so many since 1937. So we may just stay under that.

But to give you a little perspective, the flood gates around Memphis can handle 51 feet and that it is. So that it's certainly awfully close, isn't it?

So, of course, Memphis coming in on Tuesday so we're watching this wall of water go south, right? Now, as it does it's kind of cresting as it moves south and then the water behind it lowers and it crests and then that lowers.

So here's kind of a delineation of when we're going to see it all happen. Well, we're going to watch, of course, there is where the flood is. This is where Memphis is, it's expected to be on Tuesday. But then, what we're going to see here on the 10th, on the 20th, then as we move through May 22nd we're going to go from Memphis to Vicksburg, to Naches, and it heads south towards Mississippi, winding up in Baton Rouge.

So, again, we're going to certainly watch this as it moves, but there's no way for this water and nowhere else for this water to go. More on this flooding, of course, coming up.

T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Alexandra, we appreciate you as always. Check in with you again here shortly. And as our viewers know, it is Mother's Day. A lot of people are going to be spending time with mom today, but it's impossible to do when mom is serving in Afghanistan. So the least we thought we could do and we're going to do for you here in about two minutes is hook up mom and kids. Mom in Afghanistan, kids just in Florida. You'll see it right here on this Mother's Day. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mommy is the best at cooking dinner.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mommy wants (INAUDIBLE) because she's the best.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mom is so special because she (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: OK. I just love those. Welcome back everybody to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING on this Mother's Day.

And on this day, we know that the U.S. has thousands of military moms serving in every branch of the Armed Service. They are trying to balance that service. They're trying to balance service to family quite frankly. And all of them deserve certainly a big thank you today. Certainly, many mothers do all across this country.

But right now, we want to give a chance to say thank you to a mom that is serving right now in Afghanistan. And I'm going to bring in her 16-year-old and 14-year-old, Larobert Mims and Raven Mims. They're joining me this morning from Jacksonville. Good morning to you guys. How are you all doing?

RAVEN MIMS, TIFFANY MCCORMICK'S DAUGHTER: Good.

LAROBERT MIMS, TIFFANY MCCORMICK'S SON: Good.

HOLMES: Good. You've been without mom now for the past five months. Do I have that right? I'll start with you, Raven. How tough has the past five months been?

R. MIMS: It's not that bad but I guess I still miss her -

HOLMES: Now, why do you say -

R. MIMS: -- (INAUDIBLE).

HOLMES: And, Larobert, would you agree with that? She said, "It's not that bad." Would you agree with that? And if so, why would you say that? Your mom wouldn't want to - want to hear that you can make it just fine without her.

L. MIMS: I guess she's saying that because we - like, we're used to her being deployed. I mean, it's still hard because that's our mother, but we try to get through it as best we can.

HOLMES: Now, for you guys - and either one of you can jump in on this, or I'll just come back to you, Raven, it sounds like - and again you have military in your family. I think generations, really, of military in your family. Is this something that makes it a little easier, because quite frankly, Raven, you're just - you're kind of used to it right now.

R. MIMS: It's not easy. I just try not to think about it a lot, so I won't tense up, I guess.

HOLMES: Larobert, what is it, I guess, day in and day out. Like you say, you know how to cope and you can cope, but what is it day in, day out that you find yourself sometimes that you are missing, maybe it's just you can't pick up the phone and call so easily, maybe it's - maybe you miss something she cooks. But what is it I guess day in and day out that certainly does get to you?

L. MIMS: I miss her waking me up in the morning. Usually, she wakes me up in the morning every day but now my sister does, so sometimes (INAUDIBLE).

HOLMES: Now, do you - does Raven, I guess somebody has to pick up the slack sometimes and playing kind of that motherly role, which sometimes can include knocking you upside the head in the morning, Larobert, and waking you up.

Raven, have you filled some of that role? And I know you're staying with your - you aunt while your mom is away. So who kind of fills some of that role, some of that maternal role in the house? Raven, is it you sometimes?

R. MIMS: Sometimes it's me because I clean up and when my auntie has to work sometimes I cook and then I wake Robert up in the morning and make sure everything's going well, I guess.

HOLMES: And Larobert, one more thing to you here now, is today different though? I know you're - you're used to it and you all are kind of talking about how you've adjusted to the life without mom, but is today a little different and feel a little different because it is in fact Mother's Day?

L. MIMS: Yes, because my mom is away, so there's not much I can do for additional appreciation for Mother's Day, but when she comes back that's when I'll be able to do that.

HOLMES: All right. Well, I'm going to take a quick break here, a quick two-minute break. And for our viewers and for you guys as well, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll be honest with you. We have been watching the signal of their mother trying to hook them up here on the air, but we are having some serious technical difficulties. She is in Kabul, Afghanistan. We are working on it and working on it hard.

We're taking a two-minute break hoping now we can get mom up and ready to go to talk to the kids here on this Mother's Day live on the air. Stay with us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mommy rocks because she takes care of me all - all the time and she gives me food and she drives me to school. My mommy smiles when I help her wash the dishes and fold clothes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mommy smiles when I give her a hug.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, taking a look now at some stories that are making headlines across the country.

Certainly, Nadia Bilchik going to be joining me here in a second. It's always good to see you in the "Morning Passport" here in a second. You don't want to miss what she has. You got a good Mother's Day addition here.

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: I do.

HOLMES: Give me the quick tease.

BILCHIK: The most expensive chocolate you have ever heard or tasted -

HOLMES: OK. And it's for mom, right?

BILCHIK: And it's for mom or dad.

HOLMES: All right. Or dad.

Let's take a quick trip across country here now.

Hunters in the Northeast Nevada, find a woman who had been missing for more than seven weeks, but unfortunately they haven't found her husband. Authorities say Rita and Albert Chretien of British Columbia, Canada were last seen March 19th traveling to Las Vegas. She was found yesterday in Elko County, Nevada in the couple's van.

Her rescuers say she told them she was in there for weeks munching on trail mix and also eating snow. She also says hasn't seen her husband since he left looking for help.

Also today Mother's Day, for Cindy Miller Roach, one she is sure to never forget, her biological son she gave up for adoption nearly 40 years ago reunited with her for the first time Friday at her home in Missouri. He said it's the best day of his life and his adoptive family has been very supportive.

Also, Friday wasn't a bad day for World War II and Korean War veteran Bob Cotter either. Look at this. Spent his 85th birthday with his 92-year-old buddy, both taking a long awaited skydive.

I always want to ask people this question. Why do you all do this?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB COTTER, SKYDIVING WAR VETERAN: I joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and I wanted to join the paratroopers and they wouldn't let me because I wasn't old enough so since - since 1942.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did you wait so long?

COTTER: I didn't have the money. I had kids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Nothing like taking care of unfinished business. So happy birthday to him. And you might say that people in these cases say, hey, don't break anything. Well, he didn't. He was just fine.

Well, as we are saying and celebrating today, it is Mother's Day. Did you do something nice for your mom? Just send flowers, maybe a card? Well, how about buying her breakfast? How about $1,000 on an omelet? Your mom probably taught you better than that, don't waste money on an omelet that costs $1,000, folks.

But, hey, if you can afford it, do your thing. And it's one way to show your appreciation that is just one of the things you can splurge on with mom. Nadia Bilchik joining me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're about seven minutes to the top of the hour. It is Mother's Day.

BILCHIK: Yes.

HOLMES: Nadia Bilchik joining me here. A lot of people send flowers, send cards.

BILCHIK: Send flowers, send cards -

HOLMES: Beautiful.

BILCHIK: -- make breakfast for mom in bed.

HOLMES: Yes, great gifts.

BILCHIK: But I don't know how many people do this, and that is spend $1,000 on an omelet. Now why it's so expensive is that it has an entire lobster and the rarest kind of caviar, but I wanted to tell you the best part -

HOLMES: OK.

BILCHIK: -- about this omelet. If you make it at home you can do it for $700.

HOLMES: $700 - so it's the caviar that makes the difference. BILCHIK: It's the caviar and the lobster and the way it's made and, of course, the whole elusive ambience of it.

But you can also give your mom truffles. Now, truffles are a very rare fungus, a kind of mushroom.

HOLMES: Yes.

BILCHIK: And the reason they're so expensive is it takes a whole confluence of circumstances to create them and you can find truffles for around $1,350 a pound.

HOLMES: Now, people really are getting this stuff for mom. Would moms - would you think moms would appreciate this? (INAUDIBLE), I'm going to buy you a $1,000 omelet.

BILCHIK: Not the moms that maybe you and I know. In fact, the moms you and I know might kill us.

But, let's go on to other rare forms of gifts that you could buy. Caviar, now the world's most expensive caviar - and I learned something myself is because the beluga sturgeon caviar is the most expensive. Why? Because there are only a hundred Beluga Sturgeon type of fish caught every year. Caviar, of course, is being fish roe. So it's a very, very rare, this kind of caviar.

Now, you could also put a tea bag on your mother's tray which you might -

HOLMES: A tea bag.

BILCHIK: -- but what about a $9,000 tea bag, because it is -

HOLMES: Stop, Nadia.

BILCHIK: -- diamond encrusted -

HOLMES: A tea bag.

BILCHIK: -- for Procter & Gamble's 75th anniversary with diamonds.

HOLMES: Wait - you said a tea bag.

BILCHIK: A tea bag.

HOLMES: What do you do with this thing?

BILCHIK: Well, what you do with this thing is you look at it, maybe you try and wear it, I'm not quite sure. But put it this way, I wouldn't be putting it into any hot water.

HOLMES: OK. I'm just making sure that's how what it's meant for.

BILCHIK: Yes. But now, the piece de resistance is chocolate. HOLMES: OK.

BILCHIK: Now, would you pay $2,600 for a pound of Knipshildt chocolate?

HOLMES: OK. Why would it? Tell me why -

BILCHIK: Why it is.

HOLMES: - why I would. Yes.

BILCHIK: Because it's got truffle oil in the ganache and cream and vanilla and then it's about $250 per chocolate and inside is a rare truffle.

HOLMES: OK. Is it actually good, though?

BILCHIK: Personally, I am not sure that I do the chocolate truffle thing and I will tell you that Knipshildt do make more reasonable chocolates. But I think I might choke on a $250 chocolate.

And my children if they gave me that would probably get choked, but I will tell you I'm going to leave here today and I'm going to get breakfast in bed.

HOLMES: OK. Good.

BILCHIK: It will probably be cost a whole lot less than any of these items but it will be priceless.

HOLMES: It's the effort. It's the thought -

BILCHIK: Absolutely.

HOLMES: -- that they put into those gifts. This - this is Mom's Day, so you all enjoy it. You don't have to spend a lot but, hey, if you can, knock yourself out.

Nadia, thank you.

BILCHIK: Exactly.

HOLMES: Quick break.

BILCHIK: Thank you.

HOLMES: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We are getting close to the top of the hour here.

We have been trying to get this set up so we could bring this to you on this Mother's Day. We know a lot of families are going to be spending time together, but there are thousands of military moms who are not going to be able to be with their kids today and it's tough as you know trying to balance service, trying to balance family.

And we do have now - I told you earlier, we are going to get this for you. We finally got some of the technical kinks worked out. And there she is, finally joining us from Kabul, Afghanistan, one of those military moms, Petty Officer First Class Tiffany McCormick of the U.S. Navy. We finally have her up and we were talking to her kids, Larobert and Raven who are still here with us here as well.

But before I let you talk to them, Tiffany, I want to ask just you, how difficult is it and is it pretty much impossible to be a mom from that distance no matter how hard you try?

TIFFANY MCCORMICK, PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS, U.S. NAVY: Yes, it's hard, because I'm used to waking up, going to church with my kids and going to dinner.

HOLMES: Well, Ms. McCormick, tell me as well, though, how do you try? How do you try your best? Those are things you can't do day in and day out, but from a distance, do you still try to get on to them about their homework or ask them about friends. I guess, what parts of mothering are you still able to do from a distance?

MCCORMICK: I try to do as much as I can. I call them, checking onto their grades. I can logon to the computer and see their grades and stuff so I'm going to know they lied about that. Just making sure they're doing what they're supposed to do.

HOLMES: All right. LaRobert and Raven, I'm going to give you all a chance here on this Mother's Day. This day is a little different. You're getting a chance to see her and talk to her right now.

So, you go right ahead, both of you. Robert and Raven, I think you all know we have a little bit of a delay, so still, go ahead and say what you'd like to say to your mom on this Mother's Day and you'd better make it good.

L. MIMS: Hey, Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

R. MIMS: Happy Mother's Day.

MCCORMICK: Hello, thank you. I love you.

L. MIMS: We love you, too.

R. MIMS: We love you, too.

HOLMES: Now, I told you all to make it good. Is that all you could come up with?

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: I'm just kidding. You're 16 and 14 and doing a little TV here this morning. I know everybody's a little nervous.

Let me bring you back in here, Tiffany, for just a second. Is today though a little different? I know the day in, day out can be -- can be difficult. But what is the mood like there of maybe your fellow moms, military moms that you're there with -- does this day feel different, and just a different tone to everybody today?

MCCORMICK: Yes, it's different. We're all used to being with our kids, opening up our gifts or reading our cards with our kids there. So, it's a little hard. But we are here to support each other, so we try to make the best of it.

HOLMES: And something else that people might not know is I believe your family -- I mean, you have a line of military people in your family. So, you know what military life is about. You have been in service now for some 12 years, I do believe. I guess, ma'am, what is it about the service that makes you want to keep going, given the strain it has put on your life, your family's life and your ability to be that mom that you'd like to be?

MCCORMICK: Can you repeat that please?

HOLMES: Yes, my question was: what is it about the service? You've been in for a while now. What is it about the service, about military service, that keeps you in, even though it takes you away from family and takes you away from being the kind of mother you'd like to be?

MCCORMICK: Because I love my country and I love my kids, and I want to have the best for them.

HOLMES: You know, that's a quick and concise answer right there. And that says it all. I will let you all wrap it, Larobert and Raven, I'm going to go but I'm going to let you all, one last chance, say anything you'd like to to your mother on this Mother's Day.

L. MIMS: We miss you, mom. Can't wait until you get back.

MCCORMICK: I miss you, too.

HOLMES: All right. And, Raven, clearly the quiet child of the two.

Raven Mims and Larobert Mims, the 16 and 14-year-old kids of Tiffany McCormick who is right now serving this country over in Afghanistan -- to all of you, thank you all for spending some time with us this morning, you know, and sharing your moment with the rest of the country, just a nice moment to pause here to salute the military and salute moms. Guys thank you all so much.

And, Tiffany, we will see you when you get back.

We're just a few minutes past the top of the hour here. We want to get back to another military-related story. You know, the military has been celebrating a victory in the war on terror here lately. We know what we're talking about here, the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Now, we're getting a new view of him from videos taken of his compound in Pakistan. The U.S. government has released five videotapes of the former al Qaeda leader -- kind of a bin Laden behind-the-scenes look of him. In some of these videos, you can see bin Laden practicing in front of the camera, possibly for a tape to be released by al Qaeda. You can also see that in the videos, he has dyed his beard black.

The government released the tapes without any audio on them because they say they do not want people to hear his message, don't want to broadcast it, don't want to put it out there.

But take a closer look at a particular video that's getting attention. This one shows a visibly gray bin Laden watching himself on a small TV. You see the room there. He seems to be sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket. There are bare walls, wires hanging all over.

The tapes are part of that larger amount of materials, all of the information that was taken from bin Laden's compound. There were computers, DVDs, thumb drives. CIA and FBI are poring over all of those materials now.

Tom Fuentes is the former assistant director of the FBI. He is joining me now to talk about what we are seeing this week.

Tom, good to se you as always, kind sir.

TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASST. DIRECTOR OF THE FBI: Good morning, T.J.

HOLMES: In these videos, from what you've been able to see, would you go as far as saying part of the goal was to try to embarrass bin Laden in some way?

FUENTES: Well, not necessarily just to embarrass him, which obviously it is to some extent. But I think to change the stock footage that the video shows.

For the last 15 years, the mere mention of his name or anytime he's released another audiotape, you see the stock footage of him walking in the mountains in Afghanistan, AK-47 in hand, fighting off the Soviet Union at the time with the mujahidin, and that's been -- that in and of itself has been a tremendous recruiting tool for him. Young teenage boys throughout the world are looking up to him as his version of the lone ranger.

Now, hopefully, from here to forever, the stock footage will be of the decrepit old man watching himself on television.

HOLMES: And, Tom, did you see anything in these videos that surprised or actually that you didn't really already assume about Osama bin Laden and how he might have been living and how he might be looking?

FUENTES: Not necessarily. You know, somehow, being an international fugitive has a tendency to make you look bad. You know, you recall Saddam Hussein, the dapper dictator, impeccable suits, firing shotguns from his balcony. And yet, when he was pulled out of the rat hole that he was hiding in in Iraq, you know, he also was a disheveled, straggly old man.

And the same thing here with bin Laden -- you know, the macho warrior in the mountains is now huddled over at television set, you know, in those quarters.

So, I think that being a fugitive and not being able to be out and possibly trying to conceal your whereabouts and identify takes its toll on someone.

HOLMES: Tom, is this the first time you can remember that the U.S. has been able to control and shape the message coming from bin Laden? I mean, they could pick and choose exactly what they wanted to release. They chose to release it without the audiotape. And it seems to many times in the past, the U.S. has no control over what he puts out, when he puts it out, what he says and how he does it.

FUENTES: No. I think that's exactly right, T.J. The media controls it and bin Laden has been in control in the past. He puts out a message that's replayed. He puts out a video shown on television, along with the stock footage that I mentioned earlier.

So, now, his new press agent is the United States government, and they're putting out what they want to put out about him and change the narrative, change the image, change the recruiting capabilities -- and not just of him now obviously, but of al Qaeda itself.

So, I think -- I think it was a deliberate attempt on the part of the U.S. government to change the narrative and change the stock footage of what he looks like on television to a billion people around the world.

HOLMES: And, Tom, we heard this described as just a treasure trove of information and data they were able to collect, the SEAL team when they were. From most reports we're getting and hearing that they were on the ground, just some 40 minutes to do all of this.

Now, from what we have been able to piece together, how long would you say they had to go through there and find information? From the time they get in there, they do the killing that needs to get done, how much time did they have to really get comfortable in that compound and go through and pull out as much information as they could?

FUENTES: They didn't get comfortable. I think the whole time they were on the ground has been estimated at about 40 minutes. The raid itself would have taken probably about five minutes and the rest of the time, once they secured the compound would have been getting him prepared to be transported out and then going through those rooms and just take -- they took everything.

They didn't stop to read it and look at it and open up computers and wait for them to boot up. They took the material with them so they could be looked at experts later. So, I don't think there was any -- I think that's about the standard amount of time to go through a couple of rooms or that sized mansion, if you will, with a number of operators that the SEAL team had to pull that equipment out and take it with them. And let experts elsewhere look at it.

HOLMES: And, again, we are just seeing a portion of it, apparently that was a treasure trove, as they say, of information, they were able to grab. And like you said, Tom, they just grabbed everything they saw. They'll decipher what they got later.

Tom Fuentes for us this morning -- it's always good to talk to you here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING.

FUENTES: Thank you, T.J.

HOLMES: You enjoy the rest of your weekend.

FUENTES: You, too. Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. So, how exactly are those new videos playing out in Pakistan where bin Laden had been hiding apparently for years?

Our Reza Sayah takes a look at that for us and the reaction from the Pakistani military.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The newly released video images of Osama bin Laden aired on Pakistani TV late Saturday night, some of these images could certainly convince some skeptics here in Pakistan that Osama bin Laden is dead. But will they convince everyone?

Some here in Pakistan already pointing to the one video clip that purportedly shows Osama bin Laden sitting on the floor covered by a blanket, remote control in hand, flipping through a television set -- that particular image only shows a martial profile and some here could say that they cannot conclude definitely that that is indeed Osama bin Laden. It's a sign of the deep mistrust many in Pakistan have more claims coming out of Washington and the U.S. government.

In the meantime, the Pakistan security establishment cannot be thrilled with the publicity that continues to surround Osama bin Laden's death and the raid on this compound. The Pakistani army, of course, behind the scenes, the most powerful institution in Pakistan, an institution that is rarely questioned by the public here -- but not only is Pakistan's security establishment being questioned globally by senior officials in Washington. But now, the Pakistani public is questioning Pakistan's spy agencies and the army here, asking: how is it possible that Osama bin Laden managed for years to hide out in a compound right under the noses of the Pakistani military.

The army doing some damage control over the past few days, insisting that they had no idea that Osama bin Laden was in this compound, but not everyone here in Pakistan is convinced.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Thanks to our Reza Sayah there. Well, the two Muslim clerics taken off of a plane Friday night are talking about their experience. Imam Rahman and Imam Zaghloul, you're seeing them there. This is when they finally got to their destination, Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday night. This was hours after their originally scheduled arrival.

Both of the men were taken off of their initial flight from Memphis, apparently now by order of the pilot.

CNN spoke to both of them as well as their attorney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAM MASUDUR RAHMAN, TAKEN OFF LIGHT: When Mr. John came out and he faces red and he was upset, and he said, "I apologize, you guys, I'm watching you from the beginning to the end. You are very polite, very nice, very cooperative, very helpful. We appreciate your patient." And some lady, they appreciated our patience, who are in TSA, and they are good with us. Their conduct -- really, they are professional but he said, "You know, the pilot is not allowing you to go."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, it just so happens that the imams are in Charlotte. They were making their way there for a conference focusing on Islamophobia. Their attorney says they have not decided whether they will take any legal action, but they do want to make sure the pilot is held accountable for his actions.

Here is what the airline, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, had to say, in a statement, "We take secure and safety very seriously and the event is currently under investigation. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused."

Well, a lot of people right now along the Mississippi River are watching the water rise and rise this morning. Where is this floodwater headed next? The answers coming next.

Also in Alabama, our Reynolds Wolf is there, spending this Mother's Day with tornado victims. Tough way to spend the day, Reynolds.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm telling you what, man, it is still a mess. We're here in Pratt City. And I can tell you, as far as the eye can see, it's damage everywhere.

But there is some good news. We've got new information about a new FEMA center where people can get federal assistance and as a story, a Mother's Day story that you won't believe. That's coming up in a few moments.

You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Seventeen minutes past the hour now.

We are watching this historic flooding across the Midwest, and certainly making its way down south. In Memphis, Tennessee, in particular flood gates are now closed. Well, what exactly does that mean?

That is a big deal. It gives you an idea just how serious it is because the city has 30 of those flood gates to try to control floodwaters. But in its history, the city has only ever closed one of them. Again all 30 closed right now.

We're also hearing the crest is coming sooner than originally expected -- Tuesday instead of Wednesday. That means people will have less time to get ready.

Also, pictures to show you out of Lauderdale County, Tennessee. That's up the river from Memphis, homes flooded here with the water up near the roof of some homes -- just one of many communities devastated by these floodwaters.

Well, today, of course, Mother's Day, a day to honor mothers. A lot of mothers, though, don't have a lot of time to stop and celebrate anything because they're still trying to pick up their lives, get their families back together after those devastating tornadoes that hit the South last week.

Reynolds Wolf is in Pratt City, the neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, for us this morning.

How are they trying to deal on this Mother's Day, Reynolds?

WOLF: It's going to be a tough road.

I'll tell you, here in Pratt City, you know, we've been focusing so much on Tuscaloosa, so many of the places around Alabama. But Pratt City is one of the places that shouldn't be forgotten.

And I'm going to step by the way. We've got a great photojournalist, Dave Russ (ph), is behind the camera.

Dave, if we can, let's zoom around a bit and show people what's happening here and what has happened -- utter devastation from the trees to the houses themselves. You see wreckage everywhere. It's hard to believe that you've got this spread for over 100 miles here across parts of Alabama, in fact, even longer than that when you think of the tornadoes that came here just over a week or so ago. It is just heart-wrenching thing to see and, yes, a lot of families have lost absolutely everything -- a lot of people are heartbroken, a lot of moms surely having a tough time on a day like today.

Now, as we come back to me for a little bit, I got to tell you about an amazing person that I met just yesterday in Tuscaloosa, at a Red Cross disaster relief center. And this person, T.J., was Leicia Fairchild.

Leicia Fairchild had her first child -- the kid is now just a handsome baby boy by the name of Christian. He's 9 weeks old, and she's spending her first Mother's Day in a shelter, and, obviously, with very mixed emotions and with an incredible story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEICIA FAIRCHILD, TORNADO VICTIM: I looked at the door and seen the tornado, I said tornado! And we just ran and we dove under the sink, and the whole house lifted up. It started to go with the wind and we were just praying to God the whole time. All I could think about was my baby.

So, before the tornado is even over, I'm up, to the house all down the hill, I'm trying to see my mom's house, trying to see if it's still there and I look and the whole roof is gone and the windows are busted. I'm like, oh, my God, Christian! That's all I can say, Christian, Christian.

WOLF: You were not around the baby during the tornado?

FAIRCHILD: No.

WOLF: So, what was going through your mind on the second it's over?

FAIRCHILD: All I could think -- all I could think, my son, I've got to get to my son. They pulled nails out of my feet from where I had to run through my house. We had to climb over a huge tree that done landed over my house that was blocking the door. And I had to climb over that tree. I was determined to get to my son.

WOLF: It's a pretty great Mother's Day present.

FAIRCHILD: Yes. It really is. He's a blessing. Yes. I get to tell him, hey, you know, lived through a tornado when you were 9 weeks -- 8 weeks old.

WOLF: You're not in our home for Mother's Day. Is that - what is that like?

FAIRCHILD: It's kind off hard because I've pictured Mother's Day at home with his father and happy and everything, and it's not. It's far from happy. I'm in a shelter when my son.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: Now, T.J., she has applied for federal aid and when she gets her check, the first thing she plans on doing is actually two things -- getting a car and getting a home, helping life get back to normal.

Now, the FEMA help that she's requesting is pretty much the same many people are taking across the region. In fact, there were 50,000 people who applied for help at FEMA centers. One FEMA center is actually opening here in Pratt City.

Let's send it back to you, T.J. HOLMES: All right, Reynolds, we appreciate that story -- appreciate you telling all the stories of folks there in the South. Thanks so much.

We'll check in with Reynolds plenty throughout the morning.

Also, a story I want to tell you about out of California. We're going to have this for you in three minutes, folks. But you need to hear this one. It has a lot of people scratching their heads, a grave, a cemetery out in California where the grave stones have the "N-word" on them, but white people are buried there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. A story I was just telling you about before the break, out in El Dorado, California.

Listen to this, folks. More than 50 years -- for more than 50 years, a forgotten cemetery there has disgraced the bodies buried beneath with some offensive grave stones. These are graves moved from a town called Negro Hill. But the word "Negro" was changed when the Army Corps of Engineers moved the graves. They now have the N-word instead of "Negro" carved in the stone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES PATILLO, CALIF. PRISON INDUSTRY AUTHORITY: Kind of unbelievable why this hasn't been done long before now. And I appreciate the way the Army Corps of Engineers stepped up and said, yes, there has been a wrong committed and we need to fix this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the common reaction was that it's pretty degrading what they did on the tombstones. It's not a very good show of class to us, and we're going to try to make it better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The inmates at Folsom Prison are trying to help out. They are experienced in concrete work and the prison says they'll do the $30,000 job for free. They need to have their plan approved however.

But a lot of people are asking: why wasn't this done already?

Let me explain. The Army Corps of Engineers say they are not responsible for the cemetery anymore. They say you need to talk to the county. Talk to the county, they say you need to talk to the Corps. They also say that a legal study needs to be done.

Listen to this interesting fact, though. A local Boy Scout group raised $20,000 a few years ago to get this fixed. But they abandoned the plan because no one knew who could get the go ahead.

Now, Negro Hill -- a little explainer here -- it's near Folsom, California, named after an African immigrant who struck gold there in the 1800s. But in the 1950s, the town's heyday was over. The town was abandoned. The Folsom Dam then comes along and was built in 1955 and now what was once Negro Hill is at the bottom of the lake. That's why the graves had to be moved.

A local newspaper, though, checked out the records for the time in the town found this interesting fact -- the graves now marked by the offensive N-word mostly filled by white men and women.

Quick break, I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts right now.