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America at Home: National parks drop fees over holiday weekend

SUMMARY:

The National Park Service says it's ready for a surge of visitors this Veterans Day weekend after offering free admission to promote "unity, hope and healing."

"This is not about money," Park Service spokesman David Barna said Friday. "It's not significant enough compared to the significance of helping this country heal.

"We all have families. We're all in this together."

The parks' already overburdened resources have been stretched even further since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Hundreds of federal rangers have been reassigned to security details, and many state parks have been even harder pressed as local law enforcement chases down anthrax scares.

But the suspension of entrance fees during the November 10-12 holiday weekend -- announced by Interior Secretary Gale Norton as a way of encouraging travel -- should provide an economic boost, especially to businesses in and around parks.

UPDATE:

The FBI has responded to more than 2,500 bogus anthrax threats -- although some false alarms had been reported by people who had legitimate reason to be worried.

The FBI said as many as 200 clinics that provide abortion services -- including Planned Parenthood affiliates -- received mail that did not contain anthrax, as the senders claimed.

The National Abortion Federation said the packages were signed from "The Army of God," which it called a domestic terrorist group.

Three people were indicted or charged Thursday with perpetrating an anthrax hoax, including 52-year-old postal worker Clarence Lindsey in Cicero, Illinois. He allegedly sent a package to a local resident on which he wrote "Antrax Inclosed (sic)."

Legislation introduced in the Senate Thursday would impose a five-year prison sentence, $10,000 in fines and restitution for any disruption caused by a false terrorist threat or a report of such a threat.

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Impact

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS   •  Emergency information   •  Partial list of victims   •  Victims story archives   •  Latest news

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

VIDEO CNN's James Hattori reports on an Afghan-American community in California that wants to help rebuild Afghanistan after the Taliban is out of power (November 8) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

KEY QUESTIONS:

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? Click here for more

Is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention equipped to handle bioterrorism attacks?

Does the U.S. Postal Service have the proper resources to make the mail safe? Click here for more

How is Congress helping out in the recovery process? Click here for more

How long will it take to reopen the damaged section of the Pentagon? At what cost? Click here for more

What will happen to the World Trade Center site? Click here for more

What measures will be taken to try to prevent a recurrence of such attacks? Click here for more

What are tips to know in the wake of the attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

Michael Bloomberg: Mayor-elect of New York

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following totals for the number of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks.

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York City officials, 3,962 are missing, including the 157 people on the two hijacked planes; 490 bodies have been identified.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 dead or missing

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The events of September 11 exposed the vulnerability of the world's greatest superpower, presenting the United States with the challenge of recovering emotionally and physically.

The U.S. economy, threatened by recession before September 11, has suffered a number of blows in the weeks since. Several industries -- particularly the airline industry -- were hit hard by the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, and leading economic indicators dropped in September. Yet the nation's financial markets have thus far weathered the uncertainty, making up losses experienced in the days after reopening.

Incidents of anthrax found in mail have frightened many, and the notable increase of security at offices and public places indicates America to be a warier, more cautious place. But daily life has not been put on hold: People are still attending entertainment events, going to ballgames, and getting out. Psychologically, the country appears to be finding its way.