Sept. 11 Pilot to Get Arlington Burial

Army officials relented Friday and offered a separate Arlington National Cemetery burial for Charles Frank Burlingame III, pilot of the hijacked jet that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

Army Secretary Thomas E. White Jr.’s announcement came after days of legislative threats, public outrage and anguished protests from relatives about the Army’s refusal to depart from the rule book for Burlingame, who many believe died a hero when his jetliner crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.

The Pentagon said Burlingame would not be required to share a grave and headstone at Arlington with his parents and that his funeral Wednesday would include a ceremonial flyover by two Navy jets. The reversal also means Sheri Burlingame can be buried with her husband.

“I’m feeling on top of the world,” Burlingame said after White called her at home in Herndon, Va. “It has been a whirlwind, and it relieves me to have it end so positively. I wish I could personally thank all of the people across the country who have helped Chic get his rightful place in Arlington.”

White said he changed his mind after consulting with the White House and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. He acknowledged that he was influenced by growing pressure from Capitol Hill, where bills had been written to force the Army to honor Burlingame, 51, with his own grave. A full burial was rejected because cemetery rules say retired reservists must be at least 60 to be eligible. Burlingame had flown F-4 Phantom fighter jets for eight years in the Navy and had served 17 years in the Naval Reserve.

“To honor the intent of proposed legislation, and to meet the wishes of his grieving family for a Dec. 12 funeral, I have granted a waiver allowing Capt. Burlingame to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in a separate grave,” White said. “I have spoken with the Burlingame family to inform them of my decision. I also expressed my condolences for their tragic loss.”

The Navy announced plans Friday for the flyover--most likely by EA-6B Prowlers based at Andrews Air Force Base, said Cmdr. Tom Van Leunen, a spokesman.

Administration officials said that White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. carefully monitored discussions about the burial but that the White House did not directly intervene.

“This decision was made by the Department of the Army,” an administration official said.