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Woman Loses Her
Job Over Coffins Photo Silicio was let go yesterday for violating U.S.government and company regulations, said William Silva, president of Maytag Aircraft, the contractor that employed Silicio at Kuwait International Airport. "I feel like I was hit in the chest with a steel bar and got my wind knocked out. I have to admit I liked my job, and I liked what I did," Silicio said. Her photograph, taken earlier this month, shows more than 20 flag-draped coffins in a cargo plane about to depart from Kuwait. Since 1991, the Pentagon has banned the media from taking pictures of caskets being returned to the United States. That
policy has been a lightning rod for debate, and Silicio's
photograph was quickly posted on numerous Internet sites
and became the subject of many Web conversations. Times
Executive Editor Michael R. Fancher yesterday appeared on
ABC's "Good Morning America" news show with
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., who supported the Pentagon
policy prohibiting such pictures. As a result of the broader coverage, The Times received numerous e-mail and phone calls from across the country most of which supported the newspaper's decision. Pentagon officials yesterday said the government's policy defers to the sensitivities of bereaved families. "We've made sure that all of the installations who are involved with the transfer of remains were aware that we do not allow any media coverage of any of the stops until (the casket) reaches its final destination," said Cynthia Colin, a Pentagon spokeswoman. Maytag also fired David Landry, a co-worker who recently wed Silicio. Silicio said she never sought to put herself in the public spotlight. Instead, she said, she hoped the publication of the photo would help families of fallen soldiers understand the care and devotion that civilians and military crews dedicate to the task of returning the soldiers home. "It wasn't my intent to lose my job or become famous or anything," Silicio said. The
Times received Silicio's photograph from a stateside
friend, Amy Katz, who had previously worked with Silicio
for a different contractor in Kosovo. Silicio then gave
The Times permission to publish it, without compensation.
It was paired with an article about her work in Kuwait. In Kuwait, Silicio pulled 12-hour night shifts alongside military workers to help in the huge effort to resupply U.S. troops. These workers also helped transport the remains of soldiers back to the United States.
"It kind of helps me to know what these mothers are going through, and I try to watch over their children as they head home," she said in an earlier interview. Since Sunday, Silicio has hunkered down in Kuwait as her employer and the military decided her fate. Maytag's Silva said the decision to terminate Silicio's and Landry's employment was made by the company. But he said the U.S. military had identified "very specific concerns" about their actions. Silva declined to detail those concerns. "They were good workers, and we were sorry to lose them," Silva said. "They did a good job out in Kuwait and it was an important job that they did." Landry, in an e-mail to The Times, said he was proud of his wife, and that they would soon return home to the States. © Copyright 2004 The Seattle Times Company This
Memorial was written last year - how many more deaths
must we now add?
As the world gears up to mark the anniversary of 11th
september attack, we would like to tribute to the
innocent victims of terrorism:
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