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Tree illuminates memory of victims in attacks

SUMMARY:

A 37-foot Christmas tree is the latest tribute to those killed in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Workers at Ground Zero dedicated the tree in a ceremony Friday night.

Meanwhile, weekend work on the economic stimulus bill seemed stalled, with congressional leaders bickering over the process. And in the anthrax investigation, the preliminary finding of anthrax in a mail bin at a Federal Reserve sorting facility in Washington is raising more questions than answers.

Also: After days of efforts by lawmakers and negotiations between the military and the family of a pilot who died in the September 11 attacks, the U.S. Army has agreed to allow Charles Burlingame to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. Burlingame was the pilot of the hijacked plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

UPDATE:

Workers at the World Trade Center disaster site have dedicated a 37-foot tall Christmas tree in memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks on the twin towers. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani lit the tree in a Friday night ceremony, helped by children whose parents died in the towers' collapse. (Full story)

Weekend talks on the economic stimulus bill appeared stalled. Democrats accused House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, R-California, of canceling weekend negotiations to attend a California fund-raiser for a GOP congressional candidate. But a Thomas spokeswoman said the congressman left town after reading reports that Senate Democrats would agree to a stimulus package only if two-thirds of their membership was on board.

Senate Democrats have backed down from their request for an additional $15 million in spending for homeland defense and aid to New York, according to senior Democratic leadership aides. The president had threatened to veto the additional funding, and Republicans demonstrated they had the votes to back him.

On the anthrax front, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Inspectors said he has few answers about a preliminary test that found anthrax in a mail bin at a Federal Reserve sorting facility in Washington. Dan Mihalko said Friday that further study is being done to double-check the findings of the preliminary test. Tests on 100 to 150 letters are to continue over the weekend. (Full story)

The U.S. Army will allow Charles Burlingame, the pilot of the hijacked American Airlines jet that crashed into the Pentagon, to be buried in a plot of his own at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The Army, which oversees the crowded cemetery, initially turned down the request of Burlingame's family that the pilot, who died on the eve of his 52nd birthday, be buried in his own grave. It cited a requirement that reservists must be at least 60 at death to qualify for burial. (Full story)

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Who's who   •  Victims   •  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

KEY QUESTIONS:

What order did President Bush give that allows for the detention of terrorism suspects? Click here for more

Could the detainees be held for years? Click here to learn more on one case

Learn about one tool the FBI may be using to investigate suspects.

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? 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 numbers of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks.

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York City officials, the death toll is 3,050. That figure includes 2,563 people who are missing and presumed dead, including the 157 on the two hijacked planes; 487 bodies have been identified.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 missing and presumed dead

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The attacks of September 11 have sparked new debate about balancing the protection of U.S. citizens with the protection of the civil rights of those suspected of terrorism.

While the United States is proud of the freedoms and the legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution, authorities and many citizens have argued those people who seek to destroy America do not deserve such protections while they represent an ongoing threat to the country.

While those arguments continue, so do the threats against U.S. interests. Security remains high at airports, certain industries and many government facilities.