Page Title

Do you Remember Sgt Patrick McCaffrey Coming Home in a Flag
Draped coffin? It was June 29 2004...

February 12, 2009
NPPA asks President Obama to lift Dover Photo Ban

by Taimy Alvarez

The National Press Photographers Association website, www.nppa.org, reported that they have reached out to the
White House and Capitol Hill and asked President Barack Obama to lift the photography ban that prevents coverage
of America's war dead returning home in flag-draped coffins at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

In this file photo Members of a National Guard honor guard carry the flag-draped coffin of Sgt. Patrick McCaffrey at
Sacramento International Airport Monday, June 29, 2004, in Sacramento, Calif. McCaffrey was killed along with 1st Lt.
Andre Tyson, both members of the 579th Engineer Battalion, by the Iraqi civil-defense soldiers they were training. The
Army initially told the families the two men were killed in a conventional ambush. It was two years before their survivors
learned they were slain. Robert Durell, The Los Angeles Times
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates ordered the Pentagon to review the military's ban.
"What do you think of the ban? Should photographers be allowed to photograph America's war dead
returning home in flag-draped coffins?"

DO YOU REMEMBER SGT PATRICK MCCAFFREY'S FLAG DRAPED COFFIN COMING HOME?

"After my son's flag draped coffin , I have become the mother who defied the Bush administration"

BAN on PHOTOGRAPHS OF FLAG DRAPED COFFINS

Dear Mrs McCaffrey,

my name is Anna M. and I am an Italian journalist, writing for the foreign section of "Il Riformista".
I am writing you – hoping you get my email – because today I was asked by my boss to write an article upon
the possible decision of President Barack Obama to cancel the ban for the media to take film or pictures of
American soldiers' coffins. Doing my researches, I read your story, the story of a brave mum who lost her
only child, Patrick, and who is a great, incredible woman.
Therefore, I would like to ask you some brief questions.
I put it down here. Even though you will not wish to answer them, please consider that I will tell Italian
readers the story of your civil commitment and of you great pain, which you have had the incredible
capability to transform in order to help so many people who live the same extreme experience with life and
death.

The questions:

1/ What do you think about Mr President decision to delete the ban on the media diffusion of coffins images
of death American soldiers?

2/ How your life of "mother" has changed after Patrick's death?

3/ In June 2004 you have been so brave to allow the media to take pictures and videos of your son's coffin
arrived at Sacramento International Airport. How (and why) did you take that important decision "against"
the policies of President George W. Bush?

I thank you so much for your kind attention and I send you my warmest and best regards.

Sincerely,
Anna

www.ilriformista.it

******************************
1/ What do you think about Mr President decision to delete the ban on the media diffusion of coffins
images of fallen American soldiers?

"I totally support President Obama's decision to reverse the ban.

I believe that such a painful decision should be made by the family of the soldier, and the family only ---
A War-death is horrific and decisions are difficult enough anyway, I believe in freedom of choices. I DO NOT
GIVE UP my rights AS A MOTHER TO GRIEVE FOR MY SON, a cold and insensitive bureaucratic
government as no rights in such a matter.
In Patrick's case I wanted the world to see his flag draped coffin, I wanted every one to be aware of this
miserable war and the circumstances dearly paid by families, I wanted the world to see who Patrick was, his
values, his love for his family, his fellow soldiers and for his country.
Patrick did not understand why we were in Iraq…he also enlisted just after 9/11 at 31 years of age with 2
children and a comfortable white collar position in silicone valley.

He enlisted with the National Guards (who are supposed to assist the country in case of national
catastrophe)
Bush decided to send the guards to war!...The guards are not trained as combat troops, their equipment is
comprised of left over from the ARMY!!!! Patrick was the first combat-death since Korea from his unite.

2/ How your life of "mother" has changed after Patrick's death?

"My life came to a halt…a stop.
I immediately reacted in becoming an anti-war activist I travel to the Iraqi border and met with Iraqi mothers,
trying to understand each other and why ..
It has been a long painful road, after unveiling the PENTAGON COVER-UP, I have not stopped to fight the
military for the truth, it still is not over..a trial is in progress in Baghdad
In 2006, on National TV for 3 days, I switch the focus on our soldiers, our veterans and the way they are
treated returning home sick and mentally ill, while the VA tell them to suck it up. Violence has erupted across
country because of PTSD and TBI (SUICIDES, KILLINGS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE…)

I started a nonprofit org. call Patrick McCaffrey Foundation (www.patrickmccaffreyfoundation.org) or
www.VeteransVillage.org
I have become an advocate for veterans and a universal MOM . I have lost my darling son, but I have many
adopted sons and daughters now….
I miss my son so much every single day, but I see a little of him in each soldiers that get the cares that they
need."

3/ In June 2004 you have been so brave to allow the media to take pictures and videos of your son's coffin
arrived at Sacramento International Airport. How (and why) did you take that important decision "against"
the policies of President George W. Bush?

Actually the media contacted me, we had a list of journalists at our house for about 10 days, Television
stations were constantly showing my son's flag draped coffin as well as front page newspapers, magazines,
radio…etc

Nadia McCaffrey Gold Star Mother of Patrick

Wikipedia.org,