Flag and feather: An American Indian Marine is laid to rest: Cpl. Brett Lundstrom

Take a look at this respectful, even beautiful series of photographs of the Kyle, South Dakota, funeral wake for Marine Corporal Brett Lundstrom, a Lakota Sioux Indian, who was killed Jan. 7 in Iraq. (Hat tip to Murdoc Online.)

This sort of photojournalism helps put the lie to claims the U.S. armed services want to hide the human cost of liberating Iraq. In this war, news reporters have had a better chance than ever to record every American casualty, in action or later.

The Defense Department does prohibit the photographing of coffins as they are flown home from battle, but that longstanding policy is to protect the privacy of those relatives who don’t want photos. For perhaps half of the families of Marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors killed in Iraq, press coverage is a welcome way to express honor, grief and gratitude, and there is no limit placed on reporting when the families say yes.

Sadness, admiration. During the Iraq war, the news media have had hundreds of chances to take pictures of coffins, and complete freedom to use those images to make whatever point they believe worth making. In the case of Corporal Lundstrom’s funeral, photographer Todd Heisler found a special opportunity to tell the story of a selfless American, his family and friends.

Just click through the numbers at the bottom of each photo to move through the gallery of The Rocky Mountain News. They are scenes of terrible sadness and heartfelt admiration. These pictures sensitively recognize the life of one young man who was always faithful to the cause of freeing the oppressed.

Frank Warner