Army probes firing of Arlington press aide

WASHINGTON, July 11 (UPI) -- Army officials are looking into the firing of a public information officer who tried to restore press coverage of military funerals, The Washington Post said.

Army Secretary Pete Geren has instructed his staff to examine the firing of Gina Gray, a public affairs director for Arlington National Cemetery, the newspaper reported Friday.

Gray said when she was named director of public information three months ago she learned that cemetery officials were imposing new restrictions on coverage of funerals for military personnel killed in Iraq, even though families had granted permission for press coverage. Gray said the restrictions were not supported by Army regulations.

She said she was demoted after the Post reported on her efforts to allow news coverage of funerals, and was fired June 27.

"Had I not put my foot down, had I just gone along with it and not said regulations were being violated, I'm sure I'd still be there," Gray told the newspaper. "It's about doing the right thing."

Army spokesman Paul Boyce told the Post in an e-mail the Army "continues to work with families and the media to ensure a respectful experience that honors the memories of our fallen soldiers and veterans."

"The goal is to strike the right balance between the family's needs and wishes, which always are our top priority, and the interest of the press," Boyce said.