April 2009 - Posts
By Courtney Kube, NBC News’ Pentagon Producer
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Delaware - The widow stepped gently off the small blue bus, dressed all in black. She was surrounded by family members and several uniformed members of the military. She looked stunned and frail.
She was at Dover Air Force Base to witness the "dignified transfer" of her husband who was killed in Iraq.
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| Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images |
| Members of the U.S. Army Old Guard carry the remains of Army Specialist Israel Candelaria Mejias shortly after his body was returned to the U.S. from Iraq on Tuesday. |
Tuesday evening was just the second time in 18 years that members of the media were allowed to witness the solemn ritual surrounding the return of remains of fallen U.S. service members; the first time was Sunday evening.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates ordered the military to lift the ban on media coverage and allow the public to witness the homecoming of America’s war dead, if the family allows it.
But while the family witnesses the event just a few yards away from the media, the Dover rules strictly prohibit the media from taking any photos of them. Even though we all do our best to avert our eyes and give them their privacy, their presence is palpable and heartbreaking.
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