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How do we treat our casualties of war?   Since the first Bush administration, the US has banned media from the ceremonies at Dover AFB, Maryland. The media claims that our citizens need to see the cost of the war. How can we accomplish that and still respect our beloved dead and their families? Often funeral services, especially graveyard services, have encountered groups of demonstrators who attempt to disrupt the ceremonies. How can we allow their demonstrations and still respect the casualties of our wars?

Dover is currently our mortuary. The bodies are brought there without the benefit of mortuary services. So the bodies are not cleaned or treated because the goal is to swiftly return them to US soil. The atmosphere is solemn and the ceremonies meaningful to the military participants and families. It is very personal and emotional. Media snapping pictures and asking questions would seriously interfere with this process.

During my time in the military I served as a casualty assistance officer and conducted graveyard services. Casualty assistance notifies the family of the loss of their loved one and organizes administrative, financial, and ceremonial support for the family. The family is always in shock for several days. Some family members become almost non-functional while they begin to process their grief. Vital decisions must be delayed. I cannot see the media being present when the families first see the remains.

Recently, John Barry offered an interesting suggestion. He suggested that we adopt the Canadian method for handling casualties. The Canadians off load bodies, without media present, then ship them over a hundred miles across busy streets and highways to the mortuary site. The hearses are escorted by police, and traffic is required to yield to the convoy.

Maybe we should adapt the Canadian system to our own use. Barry suggests we fly the remains to Andrews AFB and transport them over one hundred miles to Dover through Washington DC. If we adopted that concept we would make the citizens of our nation aware of the costs of the war, the media could cover the convoy, and the families could join the convoy or meet their loved one at Andrews, Dover, or both.

I can see it now, a ceremonial parade driving slowly past the Lincoln memorial, the Capitol building and the White House. Streets lined with citizens hailing our honored dead. News media filming the grand ceremony, filled with flags and honor guards saluting our fallen heroes.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.