Today, when I was visiting my dad, I noticed the headline of the newspaper. It read "Homecoming," and featured a photograph, of a fallen soldier returning to the US, the first in 18 years. This is front page material here, because I live in Delaware, about 30 minutes from Dover Air Force Base, home to the State Department's largest Mortuary facility, and its only facility in the continental United States. More information on the mortuary, the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, can be found in the Wikipedia article,
here.
While I can't share the actual article, since the Delaware State News requires a subscription to view all its articles online, I found a similar one, from ABC News,
here. Here are some highlights of the article.
United States Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers, who was 30 years old, died April 4, 2009 in Afghanistan, of wounds inflicted by an improvised explosive device(IED).He was assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron, with the Royal Air Force Lakenheath, U.K., and in March 2008 received the Bronze Star for valor.Myers' flag-draped casket arrived at Dover Air Force Base at 11pm April 5, 2009.The transfer of the flag-draped casket was carried out with great dignity, as all such transfers are, whether family is present or not.A carry team of eight airmen and women wearing battle dress uniforms with white gloves moved Myers' flag-draped casket from an Atlas Air 747 cargo jet to a waiting panel truck.
I read in an article written by a photographer who was present, that none of the media used strobes, so as not to detract from the solemnity, and used only the light on the tarmac.
The decision was left up to Staff Sgt. Myers' family whether they wished his return to be attended by the media. I think they made a good choice. I have always opposed this ban. I think it makes us realize the true cost of war to see these images. It's too easy to forget when we don't see it. There is something almost beautiful to me in these images. A soldier returning home, a hero, and being treated as such. It is bittersweet.
(A small fyi, I come from a military family)I thought I'd share several of the photos of the return of Staff Sgt. Myers:
Above is the photograph that ran on the front page of the Delaware State News
This photo also ran in the Delaware State News, this is Staff Sgt. Myers receiving the Bronze Star in 2008.
I'm curious how everyone feels about this. Do you think it's good that the ban was lifted? Or do you think it is wrong to photograph returning soldiers?
Comments (21)
Great post. I, too, believe it's good the ban was lifted, especially because they defer to the family's wishes. It gives us a way to pay tribute too, and I see a face, and an individual, from this story, that I wasn't shown from the other thousands who died. I think anybody endorsing war, as well, needs to be very clear on the cost.
May Staff Sgt. Myers rest in peace, with our gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice, and my sincere condolences to his family.
We needed it lifted. We need to be reminded that there are men and women, our brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons and daughters putting themselves in harms way to serve and protect this country. Whether you agree to our actions in these times with our military or not is moot point. These people deserve our respect and honor when they give the ultimate sacrifice.
Thank you for sharing this.
Seeing those photographs made my breath catch and immediately I started tearing up. I hate looking at these kind of pictures, but I feel that it should be up to each individual family.
I personally don't think I'd want the media present if anything happened to my husband. I think it's a private matter, and should be dealt with as such. Sometimes I feel like during times of war, the American public feels like they have the right to know the names and the intimate details of all fallen soldiers, when that is not the case. These are our heroes, yes, but they are still someone's father, mother, brother, sister, or spouse. All the media, and subsequently, the general public, should be entitled to are numbers. Beyond that, get your camera away from my family member.
Woops, soapbox!
Edited to clarify: I believe the choice should be made by each individual family, I just don't think I would be able to allow them in our own personal grief.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ban being lifted. I've been in that situation, my cousin was killed in Iraq and I know I wouldn't have wanted pictures of him plastered all over headlines. I think it's a personal matter, and the families should have the choice, if they are okay with it or not. At the same time, it is a reminder of the reality that we are facing everyday by being at war. Whether it's necessary to actually show the coffins being taken off planes - I think there might be a better way to show the reality of the situation.
I agree with the above posters. Family should make the choice, not the gov't or military. It's a 1st Amendment issue.
@nouncertainterms - @StandUp2Life - @AirForceVirgin - The choice is left up to the family. Staff Sgt. Myers' family chose to allow the media's presence.
@AnamcharaConcepts - I agree completely. I like the quote I've seen around, "I don't support the war, I support the troops." I think that's a good quote that sums it up very well. No matter how you feel about the war, these men and women are fighting it, and giving their lives in doing so. They deserve our respect.
p.s. I feel like a stalker...I googled Anamchara Concepts, because I was curious about the name(which I figured was from the Gaelic for 'soul friend'), and ended up finding a bunch of information on your husband, where he works/worked, etc. and that you guys are in CO(on linkedin). lol. The internet creeps me out sometimes.
Wow, powerful photographs. I think its best this country sees the realities of war.
@tulipsinspring - That's how I feel, too. I would certainly be opposed if media was mandatory, but it's left up to the families, and that is how it should be.
@Child_of_the_Earth - That's good, I was wondering because that would actually really disrespectful, if they didn't give the option.
@Theater_Pixie - Agreed. It's too easy to forget that these soldiers dying are real people. My mom's neighbor, who is so close I often refer to him as my brother, has deployed several times to combat zones. I worry for him every time. Especially for people with no military connection, it's hard to comprehend without seeing it.
@StandUp2Life - I would definitely oppose it if they did not defer to the family's wishes! I'm a military child myself, I know where you're coming from!
@Child_of_the_Earth - hehe, so now you know more about me than you ever thought you would, huh? ;) Amazing what can be found on the internet though, isn't it?
That is really cool you come from a military family because I do as well.
I can't process the thought of something happening to my dad, so I'm not sure how my family would feel about it.
I think it is right to be left up to the family. But I can respect it if they say no to the media's presence.
@AnamcharaConcepts - Pretty much!
Like I said, the internet is creepy sometimes! 
Although if I google my name I get info on a woman who in high school was a big track star, in CA, the other side of the country, lol.
It's funny, though, I realized how much stuff was neat coincidences. My dad grew up in CO, and I've been and love it there. I'm an Air Force brat, and you were either in or worked for the Air Force(didn't know which one). Also, I'm a graphic design student!
@OperationOpenmind - Thankfully both of my parents are retired, but my dad did serve overseas during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. And my mom's neighbor, who I'm very close to, has been over in combat zones several times. It's definitely a choice for the family. And if a family says no, they have my complete respect. I'm empathetic to the families, and if they choose to allow photos, then more power to them, it's a tough but noble choice.
@Child_of_the_Earth - I was in the Air Force, and quite proud of it. Posts like this touch my heart in ways only another veteran can truly understand. I spent a year and a half in the Honor Guard, and saw my fair share of military funerals. The active duty ones are the worst though, in my opinion.
@AnamcharaConcepts - My dad was very moved by the article in the paper, and thought my idea to blog about it was a great one. He was stationed at Dover for most of his Air Force career(20 years), and he saw a lot of transfers of remains like this one. That and the bodies from Jonestown...but that's another story.
@Child_of_the_Earth - Yes, I understand that, I was just weighing my .02 that I would not want the media there. If the family is fine with it, then that's their choice, and more power to them.
@AirForceVirgin - Oh yeah, I definitely get it. I'm glad they leave it up to the families, and would never be upset if a family chose not to allow the media, it's their decision.
I'm glad the ban was lifted. Yes, it's heart-breaking to see the coffins coming back, but our troops deserve respect in life, AND in death.