Army refining policy on media coverage of Arlington burials

Army refining policy on media coverage of Arlington burials
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes online edition, Friday, August 8, 2008


ARLINGTON, Va. – At Arlington National Cemetery, families receive a folded flag, and the thanks of a grateful nation.

They leave behind a son, a brother, a father, a sister, a mother, or someone else who they hold dear.

The pain of burying a loved one can be made worse by an aggressive media, or eased by the opportunity to tell that servicemember’s story.

Under proposed revisions to the policy of media access at Arlington National Cemetery, the family’s wishes would drive what media can and cannot do.

"What the family wants, the family gets,’” said Stephanie Hoehne, principal deputy chief of Army public affairs.

Army Secretary Peter Geren ordered a review of media coverage at Arlington in July following a Washington Post column on Gina Gray, a former spokeswoman at the cemetery who claims she was fired for pushing for more media access at funerals.

more...

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56657

to make their wishes known.

Most certainly not up to the military or anyone else. It's a decision only the family can and should make.

I know I wouldn't want anyone at Mr. Solly's funeral that I didn't want there...which could very well include the media and government officials. Should it ever come to that.


My grief isn't anyone's business unless I choose to make it their business.

the media there, and before this ruling, it didn't matter what they wanted. The families should have the final say on how funerals are handled.

that they weren't shows how the military wanted to control the coverage.

And you can bet they will still try and influence people when they are most vulnerable.