Most Families Allow Coverage Of Fallen

U.S. Soldiers carry the remains of U.S. Army Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias during a transfer ceremony on Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 7, 2009. Mejias died in Baghdad, Iraq, April 5, 2009, of wounds sustained from a mine detonation during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment and attached to a task force with 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Brigade Combat Team out of Grafenwöehr, Germany. (DoD photo by Roland Balik, U.S. Air Force)

From Military.com:

DOVER, Delaware - In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the United States, 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 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.

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My Comment: Canada has a policy that lets the families decide to have coverage or not. From what I know it has worked extremely well in Canada .... so I could only assume that the same would be for the U.S. I guess only time will tell.