Pentagon Lifts Ban on Media Coverage of Returning Fallen Heroes

After an 18 year ban, the media is now allowed to cover returning fallen heroes. That is provided that the family consents. Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers's return was the first one to be covered under this new policy.

I agree with the policy in theory. If the family wants the return of their loved ones covered by the media, they should be allowed to have it covered. I think that the soldiers should be able to give some indication of their desire. The only real problem I have with the plan is with regards to family consent. What happens if the wife and parents disagree? What happens if there is no spouse and the parents disagree with each other? Do the siblings or children have a say? Having a fight within the family or 'hard feelings' at a time of such tragic loss is clearly not the goal. I fear that the situation just laid out is unfortunately bound to happen on occasion. The only alternative is the policy that prevents a unified family from having their wish fulfilled, the policy we just over turned. The new policy is probobly the right one. Hopefully the families will be able to work everything out themselves without anyone feeling even more hurt then they did when they were informed of their loss.

More at http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1513113,w-war-dead-media-pentagon-040609.article.