Seeing a Loved One in a Coffin

A post by "Blake the Megalomaniac" To see more posts click here

Tribune photo by Andy Jones (April 6, 2008)

Tara Nelson stands by the flag draped coffin of her fiance PFC Patrick Joseph “PJ” Miller Sunday after his funeral at the Frist United Methodist Church of Hudson.”

Today, the Secretary of Defense responded to President Obama’s request to review the policy on media coverage of the homecoming of America’s fallen soldiers.  The 18-year-old policy, which was enacted during George Herbert Walker Bush’s administration (presumably after the media depicted him during a press conference making a joke while another video of flag draped caskets being brought into Dover air force base in Delaware was being shown in split-screen mode), was reversed.

Well, reversed in a way as to be more diplomatic.

Accordingly, the new policy allows the media to cover the homecoming of our fallen if they’ve received approval from the families of said fallen.  This is the most precise way to deal with this issue if you think about it.

On one hand, the moment when a deceased son, daughter, or loved one is brought home from overseas is one that brings closure.  That pride in a shared blood-line with a hero is only equaled by the sorrow and sadness that your hero is gone, I’d imagine. Ultimately, it could be interpreted as a personal and private moment not be shared with those in the media who call paparazzi co-workers.

On the other hand, I believe that while the feelings of closure, pride, and sorrow are adamant, the need to GIVE your fallen marine, your fallen airman, your fallen infantryman, your fallen pilot, your fallen analyst, your fallen soldier, or your fallen warrior a face to ensure her or his service is recognized fully by the millions and millions of Americans who don’t have to think about the war everyday is vital.  I’d call it, putting a name and a face on the forgotten.

The war on terror is one in which unlike WWI or WWII, the average citizen wasn’t asked to sacrifice or chip in, other than being taxed; thus, we have a culture where we can name all of the American Idol contestants but can’t name any of the first responders who perished during 9/11 or any of the brave men and women who sacrificed everyday, hundreds of thousands of miles from home and loved ones for you and me.

So I guess I agree with the new policy.  It’s hard economic times for us here at home, but as we begin to see more and more videos and photographs of coffins, reminding us that a war is going on and there are casualties,  I think we’ll realize not only that our lives could be more difficult (we could have people trying to kill us via IEDs and Ak-47s) but that there is still a War going on, and teens and adults alike are away from their loved ones making sacrifices.

USA Today has a captivating statistical calculator that breaks down US casualties in the Iraq War on Terror, by name or age or state or branch.  Currently, 8 soldiers from Washington D.C. and 122 from Virginia paid the ultimate price for you and me.  [Link]

[Update 4/6/09: First reporters since 1991 were given approval by the family of one fallen US Airman to cover the return - Link]

Food for thought; u do the dishes then repeat.