Bury hero in Arlington

ORONO, Maine -- Charles Frank Burlingame III was the pilot flying American Airlines Flight 77 on Sept. 11. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon with 64 people onboard. It is believed Burlingame helped divert the plane from its original destination -- the White House -- by literally fighting off the terrorists in the cockpit. In an FBI report released after the crash, it was revealed that the pilot died of injuries sustained before the plane hit the ground.

Burlingame's family has requested that he be buried in Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, an honor bestowed only on soldiers and their families. Burlingame flew jets for the Navy for 25 years, even serving several tours in the Top Gun fighter school, and technically would have been eligible for this honor if he had lived to the age of 60.

Spokesmen for the cemetery, which is controlled by the Department of the Army, say that Burlingame can be buried on the family plot alongside his parents, but Burlingame's widow would not be allowed to be laid to rest alongside her husband.

In effect, Arlington is denying full military burial honor to a man who gave 25 years of his life to this country.

At a time when President George W. Bush is labeling the events of Sept. 11 acts of war and attacks on freedom, Arlington's refusal to allow Burlingame full burial honors is disappointing. Further disappointment came to Burlingame's family when the request for a military jet fly-over was denied. The fly-over honor is reserved for those who die in combat. Apparently the Dept. of the Army does not believe Burlingame died in combat for his country. Arlington should not deny a hero a hero's burial. Furthermore, President Bush should recognize the legitimacy of the Burlingames' request; pass aside the age requirement for this man who died fighting for freedom.

BURIAL IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Because of limited space, burials at Arlington National Cemetery are restricted to specific categories of honorably discharged U.S. service men and women. These categories are: Service members who die while on active duty, except those serving on active duty for training purposes only Any veteran retired from active military service with the armed forces Any veteran retired from the reserves, drawing retired pay and served a period of active duty other than for training is eligible upon reaching the age of 60 Any veteran of the armed forces separated honorably before Oct. 1, 1949, for medical reasons with a 30 percent or greater disability rating effective on the day of discharge Holders of the nation's highest military decorations (Medal of Honor; Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star or the Purple Heart The current and former presidents of the United States Any former member of the armed forces who served on active duty for other than training purposes and held the position of: an elective office of the U.S. government; Chief Justice of the United States or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; an office listed in 5 USC 5312 or 5313 (Levels I and II of the Executive Schedule) at the time the person held the position; or the chief of a mission who, at the time during his or her tenure was classified in Class I under the provisions of Section 411, Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 USC 866) or as listed in State Department memorandum dated March 21, 1988 Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval or air service, whose last period of service terminated honorably, and who died on or after Nov. 30, 1993 The spouse, widow or widower, minor children, permanently dependent children and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible veterans The widow or widower of a member of the armed forces lost or buried at sea or officially determined missing in action; a member of the armed forces buried in a U.S. military cemetery overseas maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission; or a member of the armed forces interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial The parents of a minor child or permanently dependent child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible or widowed or remarried is not eligible for interment. The surviving spouse, minor children or permanently dependent children of any eligible veteran buried in Arlington National Cemetery Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the armed forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery and who is the primary eligible. All veterans eligible for in-ground burial and their dependents may have their cremated remains placed in a designated unmarked area of the cemetery. Subsequent burials of eligible family members will also be in this area of the cemetery. Ashes must be in biodegradable containers or be placed in the gravesite without containers. A permanent register of all burials in this special area is maintained at the cemetery's administration building. Service members who do not meet these requirements may qualify for inurnment in the cemetery's columbarium complex, which houses cremated remains. Any honorably discharged veteran, spouse and dependent children may be inurned in the same family niche. Space assignment in Arlington National Cemetery is done only when there is need. No site may be reserved, and only one gravesite will be assigned per family. If a spouse or eligible child dies first, space will be assigned for the spouse or child's interment, provided the service member agrees in writing to be buried in the same site. There is no charge for a grave (or columbarium niche) in Arlington National Cemetery, for opening or closing a grave, gravesite care, burial flags or for government headstone or marker or concrete grave liners. Except for active-duty service members, all other costs must be borne by the family. Requests for exceptions to burial-eligibility policies will not be considered until the death of the individual. Letters requesting exceptions should be mailed or faxed to: Superintendent Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, VA 22211-5003 FAX (703) 697-4967 Letters should include: Name of deceased; reason the deceased should by favorably considered; all relevant information regarding military service or special service to the nation; all documentation of military service -- DD Form 214, award certificates, orders, etc. If interment is to be in the grave with an immediate-family member, include that decedent's full name, burial location and relationship; a point of contact with day and evening phone numbers; a completed copy of Arlington National Cemetery's public disclosure form -- available by calling (703) 695-3175 or 3191 -- signed by next of kin or representative. Decisions are generally provided by telephone within 48 hours after receipt of request. Return to MDW Information Directory Return to the Military District of Washington Home Page

OK, it's like this:

Our actually "official" president played loose and fast with the rules...our time-honored Traditional Rules...but...

This man DID NOT live out his NATURAL LIFE because he was protecting our cities and populated national institutions (oh God, do I even have to SAY this to these people?!) from the very FIRST murder attacks in an ultimately Presidentially declared WAR...

Either our Federal Government dealares this man a National Hero and buries him with proper Honors...or we, within our rights, declare his moment of death for us, a National Holiday for and of The People...our own Personal Day...and damn well bury him with honor every year of our recognized Freedom, Federal Republic's official sanction notwithstanding.

Since I've typed this for all of us...I hereby move that we do this, pending Federal action, and...well...just go DO it.

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