In this file photo, date unknown, made by the U.S. Department of Defense and obtained by thememoryhole.org, flag-draped coffins of U.S .war casualties are seen aboard a cargo plane in Dover, Del. President Barack Obama said Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, his administration is reviewing a policy that bans the media from photographing flag-draped coffins of fallen U.S. soldiers. The president says his advisers are discussing with the Defense Department the prohibition on pictures of coffins returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/thememoryhole.org/file)Gates Orders Review Of Ban On Photos Of Coffins
-- Yahoo News/AP
-- Yahoo News/AP
Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered a review Tuesday of a Pentagon policy banning media from taking pictures of flag-draped coffins of military dead, signaling he was open to overturning the policy to better honor fallen soldiers.
At least two Democratic senators have called on President Barack Obama to let news photographers attend ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and other military facilities when military remains are returned to the United States. Obama told reporters Monday he was reviewing the ban.
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Update: Gates orders review of photo policy on U.S. war dead -- Reuters
Update #2: Gates open to lifting ban on casket photos -- Army Times
My Comment: In Canada .... when a fallen soldier returns from Afghanistan .... pictures are permitted. Please scroll down and read the following story from the CBC in December 8, 2008.
The bodies of Cpl. Mark McLaren, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros and Warrant Officer Robert Wilson were returned to Canada on Monday. (DND)Bodies Of Canadian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
Return Home -- The CBC
Return Home -- The CBC
Shedding tears and holding each other for comfort, family members watched as the bodies of three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan arrived at an Ontario military base Monday afternoon.
The families were joined by Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean and chief of defence staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk at CFB Trenton as the plane carrying the remains of Cpl. Mark McLaren, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros and Warrant Officer Robert Wilson touched down.The caskets were loaded, one at a time, into three hearses at a runway, while their comrades stood at silent attention. Family members, clutching roses, followed the flag-draped caskets.
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My Comment: The above CBC report mentions that hundreds wait on the overpasses for the funeral procession to pass by .... but the actual total is in the thousands. It is a sight to see. The You Tube Video below catches a bit of this journey and procession.