Editorial: Soldiers’ caskets spark connection to wars overseas

People enlist in the U.S. military for many reasons, yet all soldiers face losing their lives… People enlist in the U.S. military for many reasons, yet all soldiers face losing their lives in service. At a news conference a couple of weeks ago, President Obama said he was debating whether to allow media coverage of flag-draped coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, according to The New York Times.

In 1991, the government banned photographing soldiers’ caskets on their return to U.S. soil. Part of the reason for this restriction stems from the desire of families of the deceased to keep the matter private. The military also believes the practice spares the soldiers’ loved ones from competing with the press: Essentially, if the media will be there to cover the arrival of the bodies, some families feel obligated to be there as well.

A soldier’s decision to join the military is a public act. He foregoes much of his individuality and some personal freedoms to serve under the authority of the U.S. government. Unfortunately, of course, some soldiers get killed in action. But upon their bereavement, their role, responsibility and title as soldiers do not simply disappear.

The ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq occur half a world away from American soil. Save for the occasional bumper sticker asking U.S. civilians to ‘Support Our Troops,’ some Americans undoubtedly feel disconnected and uninfluenced by the real scope of these wars. In a large sense, civilians back home can’t be held accountable for seemingly apathetic dispositions. After all, unlike certain wars in the past, we don’t have to ration our food and certainly don’t have a draft instated. Should we choose to carpool, our efforts will more likely reveal an attempt to curb pollution rather than conserve resources for the military’s benefit.

Yet we can lessen these feelings of disconnect by allowing media coverage of fallen troops coming home. The image of a casket draped in an American flag provides an image of unparalleled sacrifice in the name of patriotism and service to our country. Such an image will surely’ stir feelings even in those who don’t have immediate family or loved ones serving overseas.

This image also brings the war into perspective for the thousands whose only connection to the wars comes from TV updates, news headlines and radio sound bites. It’s upsetting to hear statistics detailing the number of soldiers killed in combat, yet the image of even one soldier’s coffin unloaded from an aircraft captures a jarring reality that statistics sometimes can’t match.

The reversal of such a controversial policy would be in vain if Americans dwell on these feelings of gloom, though. Perhaps media coverage would spark increased resentment toward these wars, or perhaps it would stir a sense of poignant pride in the fallen soldiers. Either way, a turnaround of the policy would strengthen Americans’ connection to our wars overseas.