want to begin with this afternoon's scary situation on board this air liner and i am sure it was equally frightening for drivers on the ground who say parts of the plane were hitting cars. we can tell you the jet landed safely. i want to bring in lizzie o'leary, our aviation spore kond ent. what do we know? what happened? >> we can take it from sort of two sides. what was happening on the ground, those parts of the plane, potentially the debris field and what was happening in the air. there you see pictures from our affiliate cb-24 in canada, pieces of did he pree they say fell from the ski. the blackberry is to i have give you a sense of comparison. now, switching over to what we know from the air side, we are talking about an air canada plane, a boeing triple 7, a twin engine plane, a large pass engineer judget that left toronto at around 2:10 this afternoon carrying 318 passengers and 16 crew members according to air canada. after take off there was an engine shutdown. this is a swin engine plane and can fly on one so they turn around and implemented the standard procedure which is to go back to toronto and they did an emergency landing and the plane landed normally and taxied to the gate and there will be a full investigation. they say they couldn't confirm this debris did in fact come from their plane but they're looking into it and certainly according to witnesses on the ground folks who were calling into the local police department and those pictures that you have seen looks like quite a debris field that may have come from that plane, brooke. >> if we're talking engine shutdown, this is from the airline spokesperson, have we talked to passengers on board? did it feel odd? did they notice what was happening? >> it sort of depends on what prompted that engine shutdown because there could be an event in which you would notice that significantly. there could be a fire or even just a fire warning and that would prompt the crew to shut down that engine and turn around. it could be something they noticed and also something that was handled smoothly and didn't know and we won't know until we have more details from passengers and the airline on what exactly promptedes that emergency landing. >> keep us posted. i want to bring in aviation attorney mary schiavo and i appreciate you joining us. we can't confirm definitively the debris that looks like rocks did in fact come from this particular 777 jet, but if this is true and the pieces were falling, how often do you hear something like this happening? >> well, i worked several cases where there have been parts that have fallen from planes and the most famous is the concord where a piece from the continental jetliner that took off before it actually brought down the plane but the clues are very important. the engine shutdown and the parts from the plane sounds like what the plane experienced is something called an uncontained engine failure. what happens in an uncon fand engine failure, parts are literally reflected from the engine and most cases no one is hurt and fortunately as in here and in some cases they can penetrate the fuselage and cause i problem but it does sound like the plane experience and had thank heavens it landed safely on one engine. >> you're saying it could have been an uncontained engine failure. is this something they notice on the ground before they go up? >> no, no. the problem is a part, a turbine blade and often what happens is one of them breaks off, comes lose or experiencing a problem and spinning at such a high rate of speeds it takes out other parts and the engine cowling while it is supposed to help the parts of the engine, if they're flying off it can pierce the engine or simply exit the plane. there is also the possibility they had a bird strike or something like that that took out parts of the plane as well and there have been cases where parts of a flap fell over texas and engine and parts of landing gear and i won't say routinely but it happens several times a year. >> we'll look into the investigation and see what caused this to happen o this day the u.s. honors its war dead. there are new calls for the u.s. use of military force. this time to stop the slaughter in syria. the it laest outrage over the weekend, a massacre, the total number of deaths 108. the chilling part is that 49 of those were children. this happened in a syrian town and u.n. and air negotiator kofi annan called it, quote, an appalling crime as he arrived in the capital city of damascus trying to revooif his peace plans. tonight she joins us from new york. arwa, we talked about this before. when you hear this number, 49 children, it is chilling. it is horrific. do we know what caused this? has anyone claimed responsibility? >> well what, we have, brooke, is the same scenario where both sides are blaming each other for the violence and the marines are saying these were caused by aurmd terrorist gangs and the opposition is saying that this was a slaughter carried out by the regime. u.n. mob tors on the ground did say a number of wounds they saw appear to be sustained by artillery and weapons that the syrian government has at its disposal. from what we have been able to piece together, the shelg of this town began on friday and once the dust cleared from that according to residents who were there, pro government thugs went through house to house rounding people up and gunning them down as if they were sheep. that is how one survivor described it. these 49 children according to the u.n. team on the ground were also under the age of 10. these are not come bif actives. they're the boast innocent of the innocent and the rooms they had were i know describable. they're so gruesome we can't broadcast them. little girn there and little shirts loved in blood and some had devastating wounds to the skull and other parts of the body and in one clip you saw them lined up and it looked as if they were leaping from far away and someone put them to rest. yet these are the youngest victims of this one massacre that took place in this one city and the single day and most certainly is not the only massacre we have seen happening since this uprising began. >> i know as our viewers have been watching the story and wondering whether will this stop and you had the visit today and last week it was our colleague and i am hold there is no plan b and you and i have spoken about the cease-fire and it is ridiculous to imagine that's in exist eps right now given what's happened over the weekend. what is kofi annan hoping to accomplish with this visit? >> hypothetically speaking it would be sputing some sort of pressure on the syrian government to actually adhere to its portion of this so-called 6-point peace plan and first and moer foes the withdrawal from vinls and cities we have not seen materialize at this point. it would be a lull in the have i rinse that would pave the way but it is an unrealistic scenario. this is a peace plan at best slightly feasible at the on set and in the weeks that have passed since then, it is inbledably clear it is death and that is what the syrian opposition is say. the free syrian army, the rebel fighting force also declaring this cease fair plan dead in the water saying they have no choice but to retake up arms and continue targeting government forces and of course there is no plan b and it most certainly teams as if syria is barrelling on this part of all out simple car, all out warfare that most certaintily is unbalanced and the international community is sitting back and its hands are tied because of politics and very other circumstance, and we have seen history like this playing out before. >> it is a question of who steps in and when and how can it be stopped or -- good to see you in north korea. today we should point out the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, yes, u.s. military action is a possibility to stop the killing in syria. here he was. >> my job is to provide the commander in chief with options and i think the military option should be considered and i think my preference of course always as the senior military leader would be that the international community could find ways of increasing the pressure on its side to do the right thing and step aside. >> ent wasn't just jep dempsey talking about this. you see the president and human cost of military action very much so many on president obama's mind today on this memorial day and he observed today by placing this wreath at the arlington cemetery's you tomb you mean unknowns and you see the wall, all 52,000 names echd behind him, the vietnam army. >> across the country in san diego mitt romney and senator john mccain attended a memorial day ceremony. as well romney called for the u.s. to maintain a strong military warning that the world is not safe. still ahead a veterans charity poo fights complaints it isn't really helping despite collecting tens of millions of collars and next the test and a hounder of a group trying to help heel military families drug children that have lost loves ones to war. >> all of us can and should ask ask how we can help you shoulder a burden nobody should have to bear alone. 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[ male announcer ] for our families... our neighbors... and our communities... america's beverage companies have created a wide range of new choices. developing smaller portion sizes and more low- & no-calorie beverages... adding clear calorie labels so you know exactly what you're choosing... and in schools, replacing full-calorie soft drinks with lower-calorie options. with more choices and fewer calories, america's beverage companies are delivering. as long as i am president we will make sure you and your loved ones receive the benefits you earned and the respect you deserve. america will be there for you. >> president obama speaking at arlington national cemetery earlier today. we wanted to take a moment to highlight a group whose mission is to be there for the families of the fallen. if you never heard of this video, it is the good grief camp, a memorial day weekend event sponsored by the tragedy assistance program for survivors, taps, and they help military families cope after losing a loved one and over this past weekend they brought together 1,200 families in the nation's capitol for refuge and really just to remember. >> i brought my kids five months after my husband died because i wanted them to know they were not the only kids that lost a parent and i wanted them to know there is a place they can go and to where they feel normal and don't always have to talk about what happened and we're all here for the same reason. >> bonnie carol is the president and founder and joins me live from wash be with a. nice to see you. let me point out for the viewers, are you a veteran and served in the military and the air force re serve and the air national guard. nice to see you. i want to talk about the benefits it sounds like for kids feeling a sense of normalcy and i have to ask about you. you lost your husband and founded taps soon after and i know here you are with your husband. i know this morning you were at the white house. you and other surviving family members had breakfast with the president and the first lady. tell me about that and a little something about that conversation with mr. obama. >> we really had the chance to talk with the president and the first lady about the work taps is doing with the families of america's fallen heroes and taps let's families know that america remembers and honors their service and sacrifice regardless of how or where the death occurred and in taps we have families that lost loved ones not just in combat but to suicide, illness, accidents, and taps is there to honor their life and their service. >> you're there 24/7 as you point out on your website. this past weekend it was the 18th year of the good grief camp and it is beneficial for the parents and also for the kids as well. why? >> the children learn that america honors their loved one' service and sacrifice and learn they're not alone in their grief and they meet other kids their same age and talking the same language of loss and they're paired one-on-one with a military mentor and get that buddy and get to reconnect with the military their family was so much a part of. >> speaking of the mentors, i want to play a little sound, senior airman lewis of the air force. >> it is a really benefit and the active duty individuals benefit from it as well and you really get a sense of pride in what you're doing and it is one of the best ways to serve even outside of the uniform itself. >> who are these mentors, bonnie, and i am sure their role is -- can't really put a price tag on what it is they do for these families. >> absolutely. taps recruits hundreds and now thousands of military members who we train to work with the child and experiencing a traumatic loss and for the mentors it is an opportunity to share their own grief and be in the safe place where they can honor their fallen battle buddies. >> bonnie carol, we appreciate you and your service and the work you're doing with taps. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> happy memorial day. >> tonight a charity for disabled veterans is fighting accusations it is taking people's money and not at all helping veterans in any useful way and next the astronauts that go inside this supply ship visiting the international space station. transitions® lenses automatically filter just the right amount of light. so you see everything the way it's meant to be seen. experience life well lit, ask for transitions adaptive lenses. how did the nba become the hottest league on the planet? by building on the cisco intelligent network they're able to serve up live video, and instant replays, creating fans from berlin to beijing. what can we help you build? nice shot kid. the nba around the world built by the only company that could. cisco. now's the time to move from to where you want to go. look up. with u.s. bank let's get the wheels turning. use our strength & stability to open new opportunities. to lend, and lift ...every business...every dream... to new heights of prosperity. good things are happening. just look up. with u.s. bank. welcome back. take a look with the latest news you need to know right now. hi, mary. >> gas prices usually go up for memorial day and this year they dropped 29 cents a gallon since last month and the national average is just over $3.64 a gallon. it is down 16 cents from this point a year ago, still this is the third highest gas prices have been for any memorial day behind last year and 2008. this is the third of four days astronauts aboard the international space station are working with the spacex dragon supply ship. over the weekend they unloaded about 1,000 pounds of cargo. the privately built space capsule is supposed to return to earth thursday carrying science experiments and gear the crew no longer needs and facebook hopes to release its own smartphone next year. according to the "new york times" facebook hired former apple engineers to design it. last year tech blogs reported the social networking site was developing software for a phone and facebook will need to develop fresh sources of revenue now that it is a public company. for those not completely addicted to facebook, there is another way to connect. >> another excuse mark zuckerberg is everywhere. thank you so much. one of the most outspoken opponents of same sex marriage just got in an unusual invitation and speaking about saying yes, we'll tell you who tony perkins appears to be agreeing to visit and later on the politics of memorial day. muted but still there. >> so we invented a warning.. you can feel. introducing the all new cadillac xts, available with the patented safety alert seat. when there is danger you might not see, you're warned by a pulse in the seat. it's technology you won't find in a mercedes e-class. the all new cadillac xts has arrived. and it's bringing the future forward. but proven technologies allow natural gas producers to supply affordable, cleaner energy, while protecting our environment. across america, these technologies protect air - by monitoring air quality and reducing emissions... ...protect water - through conservation and self-contained recycling systems... ... and protect land - by reducing our footprint and respecting wildlife. america's natural gas... domestic, abundant, clean energy to power our lives... that's smarter power today. this half hour $56 million raised for our veterans but the charity's own tax forms say not one cent was actually spent on the men and women that fought for our country. we're following the money at the disabled veterans national foundations. also tonight our commander in chief, not so popular among veterans. what president obama needs to do to close that gap and also be excellent, live in the moment, right your wrongs, all good advice to the class of 2012 from oprah to mitt romney and we have the most memorable graduation day moments. >> picture this. tony perkins, one of the loudest opponents of same sex marriage sitting down to dinner at the home of a gay rights activist. is looks like it could actually happen and all started back last thursday. i interviewed tony perkins, the leader of the family research council and asked him this question. >> have you ever been to the home of a married same sex couple, tony? >> i have want been to the home of a same sex married couple, no. >> if you were ever to do so and you're sitting across from them over dinner, how would you convince them that their life together either two men, two women, hurts straight couples? what do you tell them? >> first, brooke, we don't make public policy based on what's good for me and my family. >> i am just asking on a personal level. >> we're engaged here in a discussion about public policy and what's best for the nation, not anecdotes or what one couple likes or how -- >> it is personal. it is personal as well. >> but that's not how we make public policy. certainly there are some same sex couples that are probably great parents, but that's not what the over womening shows us. >> they don't bother you? >> they don't bother me. >> not at all? >> i won't be silent while they try to redefine marriage in this country and change policy and what religious organizations can do. i will not be silent. >> so that was last thursday. after hearing that the head of this lgbt group calling themselves the family quality council said i would like to extend an ep invitation for you and your family to visit my home and have dinner with my spouse and children with the full hope you will witness the love thattist examines in our families and just today we got this from tony perkins. quote, my wife and i will be glad to respond