Debra Burlingame: How to Honor the Memory of My Brother, Capt. Charles F. ‘Chic’ Burlingame, Pilot, American Flight 77, Pentagon Attack, 9/11/01
Dear Friends,
I have spent the last 20 years remembering my brother and the 2977 people who were brutally murdered in an act of war carried out by Sunni extremists, jihadist terrorists who seek to impose their cruel form of shariah law on all the world.
This was a wake-up call for most Americans. And some five million of them answered that call. They left their jobs they interrupted their college studies, and they said goodbye to their families to defend and protect their country under the colors of their flag. They went to war.
Some of those who served in combat were only children on 9/11 and some were the children of those brave and valiant firefighters and cops who died in the Twin Towers.
These people have been my inspiration. They and their families restored my hope and affirmed my belief in the goodness of my fellow human beings. I will "never forget" them, because they never forgot 9/11 and my brother, his passengers and crew, all those who died that terrible day.
This year this Saturday, as I stand at the Pentagon just a few yards away from where American 77 struck the building, I will be remembering the bravehearts of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and all the other post-9/11 military operations where they were sent, not to engage in a "forever war" but to secure "forever peace"--the phrase a British MP, NATO ally , combat vet-Afghanistan, used so effectively in a speech to his peers.
This anniversary, another American president will address the nation. But it will be a bitter day. Because this is a president who has betrayed his troops, and his country.
For the first time in 20 years, I believe we are in greater danger than we were before 9/11. The evil men who harbored Osama bin Laden and gave safe passage to terrorists to train for their murderous attacks have now been installed the ruling government of this 'New Taliban. nation. The list of cabinet ministers is a who's who of global terrorists, including:
Sira Juddin Haqqani-still wanted by FBI offering $5 million for information leading to his capture
Mullah Hassam Akhund-previously the foreign minister who harbored bin Laden
Malani Yacoob-the son of Mullah Omar, who founded the Taliban
Four of the five Taliban senior leaders who were released from Gitmo and traded for the Army deserter Bergdahl
We have lost so much since this defeat was engineered from the White House and approved at the highest levels of the Defense Department.
In view of all these devastating events, this Saturday will mark for me the first day in the next fight, to restore our country's honor, and teach our children and grandchildren that liberty and justice aren't something inherited. They don't exist our DNA. They must be taught, practiced, cherished, affirmatively chosen and defended.
We have to win this. We have no other choice. I take inspiration from the vets who are engineering and leading the rescue of US citizens, Afghan war partners, and NATO allied personnel, who the Commander- in-Chief shamelessly deserted in a county now ruled by global terrorists.
These Americans who have rejected dishonor and have rushed in at great risk to themselves have delivered me from despair.
For Freedom,
Debra Burlingame
Sister of Capt. Charles F. Chic" Burlingame, pilot American 77, Pentagon Attack, 9/11/01
9/11 commemorations
Twin Towers
Al Qaeda
United Flight 93
Benghazi
Ansar al-Sharia
Afghanistan
Islamic terrorist attacks
Taliban
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Osama bin laden
Afghan refugees
Jihad
Sharia supremacy
Iran
Peace of the Ummah