WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The Pentagon will lift its ban on media coverage of the flag-draped coffins of war victims arriving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware , Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday . Military vehicles carry coffins containing U.S. troops in this photo the Pentagon released in 2005 . But the families of the victims will have the final say on whether to allow the coverage , he said . President Obama asked Gates to review the policy , and Gates said he decided after consulting with the armed services and groups representing military families to apply the same policy that is used at Arlington National Cemetery . `` I have decided that the decision regarding media coverage of the dignified transfer process at Dover should be made by those most directly affected -- the families , '' he said at a news conference . Watch Gates announce reversal » . Gates said he had formed a group to create an implementation plan for the new policy . Not long after Gates ' announcement , the political action committee VoteVets.org issued a written statement saying it is `` fully supportive '' of the decision . Watch what led to a media ban on photos of the caskets » . Advocates of opening the base to coverage point out that the unmarked coffins make it impossible to identify specific remains . A statement from the National Military Family Association said it `` appreciates the sensitivity '' of the secretary `` and his recognition that individual families must play a part '' in any decision about media coverage . `` We look forward to the recommendations of the working group on the implementation of this policy , '' the group said . Not everyone had a positive reaction . `` Military Families United is disappointed in the president 's decision to overturn the ban that has been in place for over 18 years , '' the group said in a release . `` Just last week , Families United released the results of a survey conducted among military families , which found that more than 64 percent ... believe that this ban should not be overturned . It is evident that military families were not consulted nor their wishes honored when the decision was made . `` This is a complete disregard for the will of America 's military families and their need for privacy during this solemn moment , '' the release said . After the Iraq War began , critics of the George W. Bush administration accused it of disallowing photographs and filming to de-emphasize the number of casualties from what many considered an unpopular war . Although the Defense Department wo n't confirm it , it is widely accepted that the idea for the ban began after the December 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama , when the United States deposed dictator Manuel Noriega . After a news conference held by President George H.W . Bush , his press secretary made a humorous remark , which caused the president and reporters to laugh . At the same time , viewers were watching coffins of the first casualties from the invasion being unloaded at Dover . The following year , when the Persian Gulf War began , the Pentagon banned media coverage of war dead being returned to the base . One of the family members who favors lifting the ban is Karen Meredith of San Francisco , California , who wrote Obama urging him to order the change . Lt. Ken Ballard left for Iraq on Mother 's Day 2003 . He came home in a casket on Memorial Day 2004 . `` I wanted the nation to grieve with me , and if we do n't see those images we do n't know that these young men and women are dying , '' she said . `` And to me it 's an honor to have an honor guard at Dover when they 're bringing these men and women back through the mortuary . But we 've never been able to see those pictures of the honor being given . '' Others say the honor should remain private . `` When they come off the plane these are anonymous caskets . What is the greater good of that ? '' asked Vince Rangel , who was an Army Ranger captain in Vietnam . `` I would rather take that attention and give it everything it deserves at the grave site in the communities where you can get all that information , so people can understand these people as human beings . Not just as a flag-draped casket that comes out of a plane . '' Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said about two weeks ago that a good deal of input needed to be collected from a number of sources , including Pentagon offices representing family interests , the Defense Department 's public affairs office and the various service branches . CNN 's Barbara Starr and Susan Roesgen contributed to this report .
Defense secretary Robert Gates says families will have final say on each coffin . Group says , `` Military families were not consulted nor their wishes honored '' Another family group says it `` appreciates the sensitivity '' of the secretary . Gates ordered review after president requested info on longstanding ban .