Father Died In Mid-Air Struggle With Terrorists
Father died in mid-air struggle with terrorists
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/inde...490.xml&coll=3
By JARRETT RENSHAW
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
GUTTENBERG - Tragedy struck the Burlingame family once again yesterday.
Five years after her father was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 32-year-old Wendy Burlingame died in a tragic fire that swept through her high-rise apartment.
Her father, Charles Burlingame III, was the pilot of American Airlines 77 when terrorists took control of the plane and then crashed it into the Pentagon. An examination of his remains showed the 51-year-old former U.S. Navy captain struggled with the terrorists and was killed before the crash, according to published reports.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he flew F-4 Phantoms for eight years and later served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery after President Bush granted an exception to the rule that reservists under 60 can't be buried there.
Wendy Burlingame was photographed during the burial ceremony hugging her son as they looked at her father's flag-draped casket. Another picture shows her placing a photo on the casket.
No family members could be reached for comment yesterday.
Since the 9/11 attacks, Charles Burlingame's sister, Debra Burlingame, has played the role of advocate for the families of 9/11 victims.
Debra Burlingame was the inspiration for blogger Robert Shurbet to start Take Back The Memorial, a nonprofit group that opposed the International Freedom Center being located at the World Trade Center site, according to published reports.
The group's efforts eventually were successful, as Gov. George Pataki eventually barred the IFC - which was to promote international freedom with displays about genocide, slavery and other crimes against humanity - from being located at the site. No alternate site has been selected, according to published reports.
