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CNN Live Event/Special

Charles Burlingame Burial

Aired December 12, 2001 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: These are live pictures from Arlington National Cemetery, the burial ceremony for Captain Charles Burlingame. He was the captain of American Airlines Flight 77, the passenger plane that crashed into the Pentagon. He is being buried at Arlington as a retired U.S. Naval Reserve commander.

As Captain Burlingame is laid to rest, we are expecting a Navy flyover of Arlington in just a moment. And I'm told of the four F-18s that will be making the flyover, three of them are piloted by American Airlines pilots who were, like Captain Burlingame, naval reservists.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It appears that even for medal service (ph), we are blessed with good Navy weather, where the weather closes in and the flyover had to be canceled for safety reasons. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But here the words of our Lord: Do not be afraid. I'm the first and the last and the living one, says the Lord. "I was dead and behold I'm alive forever and forever. Because I lived, you also shall live." We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house made not with hands, eternal in the heavens. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and giving life to those in the tomb. Let us now commit Chic to our Lord.

And now in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord, Jesus Christ, we commit to almighty God, our brother, Charles "Chic" Burlingame, we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth," says the Lord, "that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them." Let us pray.

Lord, we thank you for the grand light that you give to each one of us and particularly the one that you gave to Chic, and for all the good uses he made of it. We trust you, Lord, that you have now received him into the joy of your presence and into yet more adventures and wonders. Lord, you have designed this world and you know all things good for us. Give us each such faith that by day and by night, at all times and in all places, we may without fear entrust those dear to us to your never failing love in this life and in the life to come through Christ our Lord. Amen. As we commit Chic to our Lord, I wanted to share one short poem called "High Flight" written by a World War II fighter pilot. And he describes flying very much like reaching out and touching God.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings. Sunward I climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering the air, I have chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace where never lark nor even eagle flew. And while with silent lifting mind I've trod the high untresspassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God.

And now may the God of peace keep you in his arms and draw you home at the last. And may the blessing of God the father, son and holy spirit be with you now and forever. Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please stand for military honors.

Ready, aim, fire!

(MUSIC, "TAPS")

WOODRUFF: We have been watching the burial service for Charles Burlingame. He was the captain of American Airlines Flight 77 until some hijackers forced him away from cockpit on September the 11th three months ago yesterday, took over that plane and crashed it into the Pentagon.

The burial taking place at Arlington National Cemetery because Captain Burlingame was not only working for American Airlines, he was a commander in the U.S. Navy reserves. He is being buried at Arlington. And you can see his widow, just a moment ago, was handed the American flag that was draped across his casket.

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