New Policy Lets Kin See War Dead Return

[Khephra]

By RANDALL CHASE
Associated Press Writer

June 25, 2004, 6:56 PM EDT


DOVER, Del. -- As the family of Marine Lance Cpl. Russell P. White watched in silence this week, a military detachment at Dover Air Force Base transferred a flag-draped case from an airplane into a waiting hearse.

"We just wanted to welcome our son back to American soil," White's father, Gregg, said Friday.

White's family is the first to take advantage of a new Defense Department policy allowing families of war dead to witness the arrival of remains at the nation's largest military mortuary.

The policy change is spelled out in a memo quietly issued last month by the Pentagon. Previously, the government prohibited family members, as well as the media, from witnessing the arrival of remains at Dover, and discouraged families from even visiting the base.

The restriction on media access remains in place, with the Senate refusing earlier this week to overturn the ban.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-military-mortuary-families,0,4006350.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[calimary]

1. Well, well, well.

JEEZ, what these families have been through! All because our so-called government just absolutely HAS to save face first. As dick would say - they can go fuck themselves.

[lapfog_1]

2. But don't forget...

Families have to pay their own way there.

They have to go through "normal" visitors security checks with
no preferential treatment (i.e. this means a 30 to 60 minute wait
to get on base).

No cameras.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. No cameras...that figures.

[librechik]

3. Those flip floppers! How dare they defy our beloved leader?

don't they know it helps the terrorists win when you let the families view the flag draped coffins?