For the first time in 18 years, the media, with family consent, was allowed to photograph the return to US soil of a fallen war hero.  During the first Gulf war in 1991, former president George HW Bush imposed a ban of photographing the flag-draped coffins of war dead.  This ban included the 17 dead seamen from the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemeni waters in 2000.

Sunday, due to a relaxing of the regulations that President Barack Obama has allowed, the family of Staff Sargeant Phillip Myers was able to grant permission for media coverage of his remains arrival at Dover Air Force Base.  Both television coverage and still photographs of the flag-draped coffin have made the national news.

Having grown up in the 1960’s and 70’s, I have vivid memories of flag-draped coffins returning from the Vietnam conflict.  These images were ever-present and very disturbing.  Many think that these images helped fuel the growing anti-war sentiments that were prevalent in the US in the late 60’s and early 70’s.  I think that to honor those who have fought and died for our freedoms, it is the least we can do to honor their arrival on home ground.  Without the ability to so, this country spent 18 years in the dark about the human cost of the war efforts in the Middle East.