America needs to see the coffins-Updated with Poll
Posted By Bouhammer on February 26, 2009
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
During last week’s You Served Radio show, we ran a little over our 2 hour time window because CJ and I had a civil but not necessarily agreeing discussion about the possibility of allowing photos of coffins returning home. There has been quite a bit of discussion about this topic over the last few weeks and quite a bit of disagreement going on. You can read some disagreement going on and a lot of mixed feelings over the topic. You can read some of that here, http://www.military.com/news/article/quarrel-stirs-on-flagdrapped-coffins.html.
I support the media having access, however with parameters and rules. First let me address why, which is because I think the American people need to see the honors that are bestowed on our fallen by all people.
Did you know that as per the embed rules for embedded reporters, they are allowed to video and photograph a soldier dying on the battlefield but are not supposed to video or photograph a “Ramp Ceremony”. A “Ramp Ceremony” is the ceremony that happens when a fallen soldier of any ally is moved onto the plane for their final flight home out of the combat theatre. When I was at Baghram Air Base a few times while going out on leave or coming home, there were several Ramp Ceremonies that occurred. When they happen (regardless of the time of day) the loudspeakers announce it and call everyone out to the main road (Disney Way) to render honors as soldiers are taken to the flight line.
ANY SOLDIER; US, British, German, Canadian, Dutch, it does not matter what nationality are rendered these honors. It is truly an emotional and awesome sight. This is what people need to see. This is what Americans need to see so it not just another headline like this “Afghan bomb kills 4 US troops”.
By showing not only the Ramp Ceremony in country but also at home, the American people will see that there are names, faces, families, and many other people impacted by every single soldier lost. If you have seen the HBO Movie “Taking Chance” (http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/) that I have talked about on this blog several times, then you will know what I mean. That movie premiered last Saturday and I wanted to wait until that movie was out before posting this entry. If you watched that movie and you have a beating heart, then there is no way you didn’t cry some tears. There is no way you did not get a strong lump in your throat. There is no way you didn’t feel very proud of your military and country after the movie was over. Kevin Bacon did a awesome job representing LTC Strobl and the movie got the message out that I think was intended.
In “Taking Chance” you see how not only the people working on Dover AFB show honors but how people all across America showed honors to PFC Chance’s coffin. Do you think it was the first time those people knew that there was a war going on, or maybe that we lost a US service-member in war? No Way! But it was probably the first time for many to be part of the honors by personally witnessing it.
In December of 2004 I had the painstaking tasks of bringing home one of my soldiers, SGT David Roustum, for one final trip home. Dave was killed on November 20th, 2004 in Iraq and the early days of December his body finally came home. As we stood on the tarmac of the Buffalo Airport with full military honors and the family standing by to receive their loved one home, the windows of the terminal was packed with people. The scene in Taking Chance where the people leaving the plane stop and watch the casket leave the plane reminded me of this moment back in 2004. It brought back a lot of painful, but proud memories. I remember standing in my Class-A uniform on the tarmac on that cold day and looking out of the corner of my eye up to the windows of the terminal and seeing hundreds of people who stopped what they were doing, who didn’t worry about making their flight or leaving the terminal to be with family. They forgot what they were doing or where they had to be.
They saw the father fall on the end of the flag-covered casket as it came down the conveyor. They saw brave and strong warriors weep for their brother. They saw family with stone faces covered in tears. They were in awe, they were in pause for a brief moment to not only pay honors themselves, but to witness how the military pays honors to its own. I am sure those people have never forgotten that day in the airport, at least I hope they never do.
All the American people need to see that. They need to see how those that work on Dover line up every time a hearse leaves the base and render honors. The American people need to see how proud many of us are of our fallen, regardless of branch, regardless if we knew them or not.
I don’t think that journalists should be allowed to video or take pictures of a soldier bleeding out on the battlefield, but they should be allowed to video and take pictures of the honors we present to our warriors who have sacrificed all.
You can view a Canadian Ramp ceremony below.
Now to address some of the rules and policies that I think should be followed are the following (I am sure there are more that apply, but these are what initially stand out to me):
1. No cameras mounted in C17s to take impersonal pictures of a plane full of coffins.
This serves no purpose and in my opinion it does not demonstrate anything or hold any journalistic value.
2. The family must approve ahead of time for the media to take pictures or video. They must also say when it must stop (i.e. From plane to Mortuary affairs, or until it leave base or all the way to the family, or all the way until it is put in the ground, etc.)
3.The family can change their mind at any time and when they do the journalist must back off and are not allow to spout 1st Amendment violation accusations.
4. If at anytime a news organization violates these rules or it is determined later that they were disrespectful in their presentation, they would be barred from every covering these events in the future.
The above post was written over the weekend, and was going to post this week. However it looks like the Pentagon it changing its policy as of today (02/26/09) so I am amending this post and adding the link below. I am wondering if they are tapping into my blog site and getting ideas from the Bouhammer, or maybe listening to You Served Radio.
Pentagon changing policy
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/26/ap-pentagon-allow-media-coverage-returning-war-dead/
If you have an opinion about this matter, please leave a comment and let me and others know.
What is your opinion on the Pentagon allowing media coverage of our fallen coming home?
- There should be rules and guidelines as Bouhammer suggests (50%, 19 Votes)
- It should NOT be allowed for any reason (47%, 18 Votes)
- The media should have full access to any coffins coming home (3%, 1 Votes)
- I haven't decided yet (No Opinion) (0%, 0 Votes)
- I didn't think so, but then Bouhammer changed my mind (0%, 0 Votes)
- I really don't care one way or another (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 38
Loading ...
I have been very vocal about the pictures from Dover not being shown. Your rules are very good. My problem, comes our experience in the 60′s and 70′s. The press totally broke the trust, and I can will not allow them the chance to put into hands that will never respect the flag draped warriors return.
Since you leave me no option to disagree with you on your poll, I’m going to do so here.
I like your options, but what are you going to say when those images are used to denigrate the life lost instead of honor it?
In my opinion this time is for the family, the funeral in and of itself will become a media event like it or not. This is the family’s moment. Its not about you or the rest of the country at that point, its all about them and we can not allow that moment in time to be cheapened or subverted despite how honorable our intentions are.
David, I think that it will only take the press screwing it up a time or two and a few bad apples will ruin it for all the rest of the press. Rule #4 should keep them from ever screwing up. The poll was screwed up. I forgot to include the word “NOT” in the 1st answer choice. Sorry about that. I fixed it now.
I understand your concern, but back then there were no rules or guidelines. BTW, I fixed the poll.
I kind of agree with Haole Wahine. I can easily see the MSM using these ceremonies in negative ways. It only takes one screw up to skew the view point of many. How many stories have people heard lately about things that were reported to happen in Iraq (Haddith (spelling??) Dam, for instance) and since the MSM said they were guilty, they were! (Well, to many. Some of us actually have minds and brains that are not brainwashed and allow us to be free thinkers.)
As a member of the Patriot Guard, we honor the families wishes. If they decline our request to stand honor, we do not attend- even though we want to show our respect for the person’s service. We honor their request. I can honestly not see the MSM doing that.
Remember, sensationalism sells- not honestly and integrity.
Linda
Unfortunately my family has had several dealings with “the press” and not once have they reported the true facts. I will NEVER trust what they say or print, so I wouldn’t allow them anywhere near those caskets with a camera and a mic. Not ever.
Well I don’t see how anyone can distinquish who’s family member is in
which casket. Do they announce that? If not; then what is the big deal?
To me a flag covered casket means a brave, true warrior returned home.
As with anytime the media makes derogatory remarks; we just have to
consider the source and ignore them. It may help to have security around
when they arrive at Dover (maybe they do; I don’t know because they have
never shown us the arrivals) just in case some of those idiots that have
interrupted funerals recently should show up. BTW your blog above about
David’s casket arriving made me cry from just reading it. I know that had
to really upset you and Christine.
I like your rules Troy. I agree that Americans need to see the true cost of war. It’s very important that they are not just numbers passing by. My worry is that msm might overstep the boundaries and be disrespectful of the soldiers and the families. I never want to see that happen. Those who have fallen and their families are my first concern and always will be.
Many may agree that grief is private…And certainly our fallen warriors & their families deserve that private time. Americans should also acknowledge the loss of a brave service member. My true feeling is that many Americans do not remember that we are at war(s). They don’t feel any sacrifice, no food or gas rations, nor have their neighborhoods been occupied by an enemy. These people go about their lives, with no true comprehension that we are at war. I am not advocating that MSM sensationalize flag-draped coffins. But maybe, just maybe, a Ramp Ceremony or respectful media coverage of our fallen men & women at Dover AFB, would remind all those citizens at the mall that we are at war.
[...] the problem is now fixed and the polls work. The polls is at the bottom of the posting located at http://blog.bouhammer.com/2009/02/america-see-the-coffins/ or you can vote on the sidebar. Share and [...]
David M. and Carol make excellent points…Public vs. private time. Until the Soldier arrives home, he is a “brave, true warrior” and perhaps under this title the public(as members of the country the Soldier if from) should be entitled to pay their respects by viewing ceremonies…until it becomes private time. Then it should be hands-off, so that the family can mourn without having to worry about cameras and the likes.
I find myself in disagreement yet again, but my arguments against the shift in policy differ with most. I find your rules for coverage and your arguments for why well intentioned, but it comes down to my experience with the media and my total lack of trust in them. http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2009/02/political-decisions-compromise-on-the-photography-of-the-fallen-not-well-thought-out.html
I too have served in the grave honor of escort for a fallen friend and the jackals of journalism reminded me then of why I find their profession as a whole, dishonorable and disrespectful.
The VFW magazine had an article about a year ago on the difference between respectful honorsversus disrespectful politicization of our fallen. They did as well of a job of covering it without clearly stating that the war protestors were wrong as can be done with “objectivity.”
Bottom Line: If I thought your rules would be adhered to, I’d support it, but I don’t. And I don’t think the jackals of journalism should be allowed anywhere near a family member in their grief.
Fortunately, my family is fully aware that my sacrifices shall never be allowed the politicization of the press.