Friday, August 16, 2002
Government to Bury Unidentifiable Remains

Unidentifiable remains of victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the military said Friday.

The September 12, 2002, ceremony will hold special significance for families of five people whose remains have never been identified, said Colonel Jody Draves, a spokeswoman for the Military District of Washington, which oversees the cemetery.

The service will include burial of the cremated ashes of all remains not linked to a particular victim, as well as some remains which were identified that family members asked to be included.

"The intent is not as a memorial service but as a group burial for victims not identified," Draves said.

The Pentagon attack killed 189 people: 125 in the Pentagon and 64 aboard American Airlines Flight 77. Remains of the five hijackers on the flight have been separated from those of the victims.

The five victims whose remains have not been identified include:

Retired Army Colonel Ronald Golinski, a civilian Pentagon worker
Navy ET1 Ronald Hemenway
Rhonda Rasmussen, a civilian worker for the Army
Jack T. Lynch, a civilian worker for the Navy
Dana Falkenberg, a passenger on Flight 77

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will speak at a funeral service for the unidentified victims of the attack on the Pentagon at 9 a.m., September 12, 2002, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Additional identified remains will also be included in this group burial for those whose families so elected.  The funeral service will be held in the amphitheater.  Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz will preside at a graveside committal service that will follow the funeral service.

Media interested in covering the funeral service must pre-register with the Military District of Washington Public Affairs office at (202) 685-4645, 685-2909 or 685-3603.  Media
pool coverage will be provided for the committal service.
 

Posted: 16 August 2002 Updated: 10 September 2002 Updated: 5 October