A picture published in today's newspaper is exceedingly unusual. It shows a United States Marine after he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. He died hours later.
Not all news outlets will choose to publish the picture, distributed by The Associated Press. We feel we owe it to our readers to explain why we have decided to use the image.
We are entirely in support of the war against terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. We also are dedicated to supporting America's fighting men and women.
We believe that it is important for those of us for whom our soldiers, sailors, air crews and Marines serve to understand the sacrifices they make. Too often, they make the ultimate sacrifice - for us.
As of Thursday night, 808 military personnel and Department of Defense civilian employees had given their lives in Operation Enduring Freedom, the battle against terrorists in and near Afghanistan. Another 4,340 military personnel and civilian employees had died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thousands more Americans have come home from the wars maimed in body and sometimes, mind.
Too often, we fear, some Americans see only the statistics, the casualty counts released by the Department of Defense. We believe it is important for all of us to understand that behind the numbers are real men and women, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, for us. That is why we decided, after hours of debate and, yes, searching of our own hearts, to use the photograph of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard.
Our use of the photograph - particularly as we did, on an inside page - was not intended as "sensationalism." It was not our intention to be disrespectful of Lance Cpl. Bernard. Far from it. We respect no one more than those who serve our country in uniform.
Our decision was made in the knowledge that it may be controversial. But our mission as journalists is not to sugar-coat the news - it is to inform our readers as objectively as possible.
Recognizing that even wars that are unavoidable carry with them a terrible price is part of that role. We owe it to our readers. Perhaps even more important, we owe it to the men and women who serve us in uniform - and sometimes lay down their lives for us.
May God watch over them all.