for their sacrifice . These men and women enlisted in the military for their nation . They fought for their nation . They died for their nation . Their return should be respectfully and publicly acknowledged by their nation . The ban on images of returning casualties started accidentally , and without any reference to the `` privacy '' of the families of those who gave their lives in service to the nation . The accident of media history occurred in December 1989 when poor White House scheduling placed President George H.W. Bush before live television cameras just as the first American casualties were arriving at Dover Air Force Base from the U.S. invasion of Panama . CNN and two other major TV networks fired up their split-screen technology , showing on one side the president joking with White House reporters just before the Christmas holiday -- and on the other the sober images of flag-draped military caskets being carried ceremoniously by honor guards across the tarmac at Dover . After the holidays , the president appealed publicly to reporters to `` help me '' overcome a public impression that he had been insensitive on TV about the returning casualties
Editor 's note : Ralph J. Begleiter teaches communication , journalism and political science at the University of Delaware . During two decades as CNN 's `` world affairs correspondent , '' Begleiter was the network 's most widely traveled reporter . Ralph J. Begleiter says the Pentagon 's new policy on media access to coffins of war dead is a milestone . NEWARK , Delaware -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people . The Pentagon 's decision announced Thursday allowing media coverage of coffins of war victims returning to Dover Air Force Base -- if families agree -- restores to its rightful , honorable place the immense value of the sacrifice American troops make on behalf of their nation . It allows the American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time . Although no one should have a veto over the nation 's ability to pay respects to its fallen troops , I believe most families will decide that their sons and daughters deserve to be recognized publicly