DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LIFTS BAN

MEDIA ALLOWED ACCESS TO DOVER
BUT ONLY WITH FAMILY PERMISSION

DOD PHOTO

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday that a controversial 1991 policy under President H.W. Bush of not allowing photographs of flag draped coffins of U.S. Soldiers returning to Dover Air Force Base has been reversed. “As you know, the president asked me to review this policy. After receiving input from a number of sources, including all of the military services and organizations representing military families, I have decided that the decision regarding media coverage of the dignified transfer process at Dover should be made by those most directly affected: on an individual basis by the families of the fallen. We ought not presume to make that decision in their place said Gates.”

Gates, who stated he was never comfortable with the ban, said in the press conference that he has instructed a working group to come up with a plan to implement the new policy and to examine ways in which they might further assist families of those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our Country.

White House Press Secretary Gibbs said that the decision on allowing the media to cover the return of Soldiers is now in the right place – the families. "This policy allows them to make that decision and protect their privacy if that's what they wish to do. And the president is supportive of the secretary's decision."

Some groups don’t agree with reversing the ban. “We at Families United are not advocating overturning the current ban, but if the Obama Administration is demanding a change then we strongly believe that the decision to permit media at Dover AFB should be left to the family members of the fallen hero,” said Families United Executive Director Brian Wise. “Over the past few days, we have heard from hundreds of military families who have a wide range of feelings on this issue. Some Gold Star families view the presence of media and photographers as a way to celebrate the life of their hero, while many others question the motives behind media access or understandably want to keep that solemn moment private.”

There have been times throughout the years when news groups were allowed access, until President George W. Bush and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.