Most families allow media to cover fallen soldiers

[kskiska]

Source: AP

DOVER, Del. – In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S., most families given the option have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases.

Critics had warned that military families needed privacy and peace activists might exploit the images, but so far the coverage has not caused problems.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers of Hopewell, Va., who died April 4 in Afghanistan, was the first combat casualty whose return to American soil was witnessed by the media. He was to be buried with full military honors Monday afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery.
(snip)

Since the ban was lifted, 19 families have been asked whether they wanted media coverage of their loved one's return and 14 have said yes.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090427/ap_on_re_us/us_casualty_returns

[Tempest]

1. The family of a local soldier allowed his coffin to be photographed

The pictures was in my local paper.

Interestingly enough, although I live in a strong conservative city, there was no outcry about the pictures from the usual suspects.

[No Elephants]

2. The ban was to protect Presidents. It was never about the troops or their families.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

3. Exactly

Plus I've always felt a pciture of a flag draped coffin was more powerful than one of a grieving family. So how could those pictures be intrusive?