Crew of Surveillance Plan Receives Awards
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: After a collision with another aircraft, detention on an island in China, and a national homecoming celebration, the "hero" label became official today for the crew of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane. In an ceremony earlier today, Lieutenant Shane Osborn received one of the Navy's highest awards for heroism for his landing of that badly damaged plane. He and the others also were awarded medals for the way they handled themselves during the ordeal. CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now from the ceremony site, Andrews Air Force Base. Jeanne, good to see you again,</s>JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Stephen. The joint services open house is getting under way here at Andrews and there are some rock stars here. They are the crew of the EP-3, and none of them is being mobbed more with admirers and autograph seekers that Lieutenant Shane Osborn. He was the pilot of that EP-3 who brought it down safely on Hainan Island despite the fact that his aircraft was badly damaged. He received two medals earlier today and I spoke to him a while ago about how it felt to get the distinguished flying cross and the meritorious service medal.</s>LIEUTENANT SHANE OSBORN, NAVY PILOT: Obviously, the biggest honor, next to meeting the president and the vice president, that we've had since we have been back, and that's all happened today. So it's been a great day.</s>MESERVE: And joining now is Diana Osborn. She is Lieutenant Osborn's mother. How did it feel for you to see your son honored in this way?</s>DIANA OSBORN, LIEUTENANT SHANE OSBORN'S MOTHER: It's a very exciting and proud moment. I am just so thankful that our country got them back safely as quickly as they did.</s>MESERVE: But you didn't get to go to the White House.</s>D. OSBORN: No, I didn't get to go to the White House. I really was hoping that I would get to, and would have enjoyed it, but not this time.</s>MESERVE: Are you going to scold your son about that?</s>D. OSBORN: Absolutely.</s>MESERVE: He told me that he is flying again and that he fully expects to be asked to do surveillance flights off of the coast of China. For you, as a mother, is that difficult?</s>D. OSBORN: No, not really, because if he came through this experience and with all the damage that was to the plane, I think -- I have every confidence in his abilities and his training to bring him back safe.</s>MESERVE: Any clues, when he was a child, that he'd end up a decorated hero? D. OSBORN; Oh my. Not really. He always talked about flying, he always wanted to fly. He was always a very determined, fun loving son who met with lots of challenges for his mother.</s>MESERVE: Well spoken, like a very proud mother as I'm sure you are today. Congratulations to you. And that's it from Andrews Air Force Base. Now back to you in Atlanta.