Military Families Visiting Dover: Statistics

ABC News’ Luis Martinez reports:When President Obama was on hand for the return of 18 fallen Americans at Dover Air Force Base last night, 14 families of the fallen were also in attendance.  Their presence reflects another change that occurred when the Pentagon lifted the ban on media coverage at Dover this past April, the Pentagon would now pay for the travel and lodging for families that chose to be on hand when their loved ones returned to Dover.The change has led to a significant number of families choosing to travel to Delaware than before the change in policy.  Prior to the policy change, families  were allowed to attend the dignified transfers at Dover, but they  did so at their own expense.  Because of the difficulties in arranging for travel to Delaware at the last minute, as well as coordinating arrivals with the uncertain flight schedules of military aircraft, only a limited number of families were able to attend.  There have been 310 dignified transfers at Dover since the new policy took effect.  According to Dover AFB spokesman Maj. Carl  Grusnick,  since the policy change,  73 percent of families have traveled to the base to be on hand for the return of their loved ones.  About 60 percent of the families have agreed to media coverage of the dignified transfers. These percentages do not reflect last night’s arrivals. The families usually arrive by commercial air and have their trips plus room and board paid for by the Pentagon. The policy says up to three family members can be included under this travel plan, but they can get a waiver and usually the services allow them to bring any number of people they want to bring.  The family of Army Sgt. Dale Griffin was the only one of the 18 who opted for media coverage of last night’s dignified transfer. Pentagon rules reflect the strong desire to protect the privacy of families who choose not to allow media coverage with those with loved ones on the same flight who do allow it. The press is escorted away from the tarmac following the dignified transfers of those whose families chose open coverage so the dignified transfers  can continue for those who did not.  Any photography of the families on the flight line is forbidden at all times. On April 5, about 40 members of the media were on hand to cover the dignified transfer of Air Force Staff Sergeant Phillip Myers whose family was the first to allow media coverage.  That has been the largest media presence at Dover to date and the numbers of press in attendance have decreased significantly since then.  Usually the only media representative is a still photographer from the Associated Press.  Last night, there were 24 media representatives at Dover from 14 news agencies. The new rule enabling paid family travel allowed SSgt. Myer’s widow to fly in from his home base in England so she and other family members could be on hand to see the dignified transfer. According to Maj. Grusnick,  Air Force videographers record each arrival whether a family chooses to allow media coverage or not.  Afterwards those videos are offered to all the families.   Overall, 75 percent of families choose to receive the Air Force video.  That includes the 60 percent who allowed media coverage and additional numbers that did not, but later choose to have a keepsake of the dignified transfer.      -  Luis Martinez at the Pentagon