"9/11 Pilot Denied Burial at Arlington"

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kskiska (3498 posts) Dec-05-01, 01:18 AM (ET) "9/11 Pilot Denied Burial at Arlington" Burial by the Book Flight 77 Pilot Denied Own Grave at Arlington Capt. Charles Frank Burlingame III likely died fighting to keep terrorists from wresting control of American Airlines Flight 77 before its plunge into the Pentagon. President Bush has said that he and the thousands of others who died Sept. 11 were victims of war. But Burlingame, Flight 77's pilot, who landed F-4 Phantom jet fighters on aircraft carriers for eight years while in the Navy and served in the Naval Reserve for 17 years, isn't being allowed the military burial he had been promised. Arlington National Cemetery and the Army have ruled that Burlingame, 52, isn't eligible for interment in the nation's most sacred military burial ground. Because retired reservists must turn 60 before admission to Arlington, Burlingame does not meet the strict criteria for burial -- no matter how he died. His family believes that Burlingame not only served his country but gave his life defending it. They believe that to deny him his own grave at Arlington is to punish him for dying a premature death at the hands of terrorists. "My brother was one of thousands who perished on that day, and we'll never know what happened on that airplane," said Debra Burlingame, a Los Angeles lawyer. "But it's not very difficult to see that he had an active, up-close-and-personal, probably hand-to-hand confrontation with one or more knife-wielding terrorists. It was no different than if he were in combat. Not only is he a hero, I think he should get the Purple Heart." Such a medal would make Burlingame, who lived in Herndon, eligible for burial at Arlington. In a letter to Debra Burlingame, Army officials said that the burial request had been reviewed several times and that Thomas E. White, secretary of the Army, made the ruling himself. "After careful consideration, he has decided to adhere to the established criteria for ground burial at Arlington National Cemetery," Reginald J. Brown, assistant secretary of the Army, wrote for White in a Nov. 7 letter. "He has maintained this determination on all requests for exception, both before and after the terrorist attack." more… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58149-2001Dec4.html   Alert Edit | Reply | Top

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Subject     Author     Message Date     ID    it's called Gray Area Insider Dec-05-01 1  Update--burial allowed! Maeve Dec-05-01 2

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Insider (518 posts) Dec-05-01, 01:38 AM (ET) 1. "it's called Gray Area" LAST EDITED ON Dec-05-01 AT 01:39 AM (ET) ...and not talked about often. maybe now it will change, more benefits for those in the 'gray area.' "After 20 years of service and as a member of the Retired Reserve, and not yet 60, you'll still have PX, commissary privileges and low-cost life insurance. " http://www.goarmyreserve.com/prior.htm (list of benefits) hmmmm, but here's one: --snip-- Veterans Benefits For eligible veterans, the Veterans Administration will reimburse a portion of the money spent on a headstone or marker in a private cemetery. A burial flag is provided for soldiers who have completed 20 years of creditable service in the Army Reserve. “Gray area” retirees are entitled to burial in a national cemetery and memorial flag, or a headstone/marker if buried in a private cemetery (the headstone is shipped at government expense but the VA does not pay the cost of placing the headstone/marker). The family is eligible to receive a Presidential Certificate that bears the President’s signature. Many funeral homes are well-versed on the burial rights of veterans and know the procedures to follow. Family members also can call the regional office of the VA for assistance. Some veterans may qualify for various pensions, burial in a national cemetery, home loan guarantees and education benefits. The Veterans Administration can provide more information on these programs. Call them toll free at (800) 827-1000. --snip-- http://www.army.mil/usar/benefits/benefits9.html more at: http://www.2xcitizen.usar.army.mil/soldierservices/retirement/grayarea.asp where's irate citizen? i bet he'll see this thread   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Maeve (764 posts) Dec-05-01, 11:48 AM (ET) 2. "Update--burial allowed!" http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011205/us/attacks_pilot_burial_4.html WASHINGTON (AP) - Following a government reversal, the pilot of the American Airlines jet that terrorists crashed into the Pentagon (news - web sites) will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. <more> Dia idir sinn agus an t-olc.--God be between us and the evil.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

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