Covering dignified transfer at Dover Air Force base: a photographer’s story

In 2009, the Pentagon lifted a ban that forbade members of the news media from covering the dignified transfer of the remains of U.S. servicemen and women at Dover Air Force Base. On April 5th, 2009, around forty reporters and photographers were present for the return of the remains of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers of Hopewell, Virginia.

But these days, there’s often only one member of the news media present. Steve Ruark is a freelance photographer with the Associated Press. He has been to Dover for dignified transfers more than ninety times.

Ruark says that over the past few weeks, he’s noticed an increase in the number of calls he’s getting to go to Dover. He shares his experiences covering the return of remains to the base.