Blue Star Chronicles

The eighteen-year ban on photographing flag-draped military caskets as they arrive back in the United States is being lifted by the Pentagon. See photos and videos below.

Military Caskets

Update 2/27/09: The lifting of this ban has created a quiet and saddened reaction. We’re printing one response we have received, which seems to sum-up the concerns of many others:

I agree with the VFW, it is about what the families want, not the media or the politicians. It is my opinion that no photographs should be taken of our fallen returning to Dover. The return of fallen Soldiers to the U.S. is a very dramatic, troubling, and sad time for the next of kin and families of our heroes and we don’t need to let our enemies exploit this event in an attempt to create anti-U.S. propaganda at their expense. Do you want someone photographing you in your darkest hour? I know that as a Soldier, if I were to fall in battle, I don’t want my arrival in at Dover, or anywhere else for that matter, to be photographed. That is my families time to grieve and no one in this world has the right to take that from them. In my opinion families should reserve the right to present any images they would like to share, if any, of the fallen to the media or others.

Captain Joshua S. Hearn

Here’s a link to a view of Defense Secretary Robert Gates response to the concerns of military families on this issue. From everything we’re reading, far more are against this new policy than are for it, which comes gratis President, Barack Obama.

Lifting the ban on photographing our military caskets as they arrive at home at Dover Air Base is receiving mixed reactions.

At a recent press conference, a reporter asked President Obama if he would lift the long-standing ban. Obama replied that he had directed the Department of Defense to review the matter. The decision to lift the ban was announced today.

The Washington Times reports that the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars have “condemned” lifting the ban. American Legion National Commander, David K. Rehbein said this:

Photographing the caskets that contain the remains of the men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of our country and its freedom, is little short of sacrilege. The practice would be intrusive and hurtful to the warriors’ families. The return of our heroes is also a sacred moment for our armed forces, and should respected.

Glen M. Gardner, Jr., National Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., and a Marine veteran of Vietnam had two suggestions for Defense Secretary Robert Gates: (1) What do the families want, and (2) Do what the families want.

Those advocating for lifting the ban say Americans are not getting the true picture of the full costs of the war, and some believe the ban on photographing military caskets is a form of censorship.

Gardner’s organization did not want the ban lifted:

…the return of America’s fallen warriors in not a media event.

Gardner points out that that in our country “only seven-tenths of 1 percent of the population wears the uniform: “I maintain that those Americans who are in this war - the military and their families - know the true picture.

The Army Times reported the decision and printed several quotes from Secretary Gates, but offered no opinion.

The Stars and Stripes quoted both those pro and con. John Ellsworth, president of Military Families United, lost his son in Iraq in 2004. He believes the photographs of caskets can be used as anti-war propaganda: “It’s pretty obvious that the Pentagon did not discuss this with us,” said Ellsworth. This father believes lifting the ban was “poorly thought-out.” He asks the important question: “what would happen if different members of the same family disagree on news coverage.”

On the “pro” side, Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says “all too often, the sacrifices of our military are hidden from view.”

Stars and Stripes reports that veterans and military families are “split on the issue.” Secretary Gates has promised that the families of the dead will have the last say. This is troubling policy, and while the Department of Defense tells us there are still details to be worked out, how will families react to sharing the arrival area of their loved one with a press pool? What about the families not wanting their soldier to be photographed? Will the next step be the Freedom of Information Act allowing any one from the press to enter? Who will control where the press goes and what they photograph? Who will keep those like the Kansas Westboro Church away from our soldiers? I can see the ACLU working day and night to get any and all war protesters into the site where our fallen warriors return.

Secretary Gates gave little time to resolve the many questions and procedures. Our country has been thrown into this - one more critical and sensitive decision to be made too quickly to be made soundly.

The question: do our military men and women want their casket to be photographed? That’s really the question. It’s not as much a question for the family, but it a question for the fallen warrior. (Click the photos below to enlarge.)

Military Gallery I (Photos)

Military Gallery II (Photos)