The death of Army Cpl. Timothy J. Lauer on Oct. 14 in Baghdad was tragic, even though he died a hero in the service of his country. Back home in Crawford County, however, Cpl. Lauer left behind a loving wife, Valerie Lauer, and four young children, Charity, Stephanie, Carrie and Jordan Covell.

At Lauer's funeral on Monday in Meadville, a Times-News photographer snapped a photo of Valerie Lauer, as her husband's casket was placed into a hearse parked outside the Blooming Valley United Methodist Church. The widow's grief is etched deeply in her expression, making the picture, which ran on the front page of today's Erie Times-News, so terribly sad to look at.

I spoke with several readers today who wondered why the newspaper would use such a photograph on its front page. They felt we were intruding on a family's grief. I suppose you might say that we did, although Times-News photo chief Rich Forsgren gave strict orders to his staffers not to shoot pictures inside the church or at the cemetery. Those orders were followed.

Why use a photo like this? Well,first of all, because it's real. You can see how a soldier's death has left his wife devastated. You can see members of the Patriot Guard, the group that was formed in response to protesters who began showing of at the funerals of soldiers killed in action, trying to console Mrs. Lauer.

More than words, a picture like this one brings home the sacrifice of dedicated soldiers such as Cpl. Lauer -- and what it means for the family he left behind.

No matter what your political persuasion, I would bet that most of us would look at a photo like this and agree that war is a terrible thing. Does that mean that the use of the photo was a political statement? No, not really. But it shows that individuals and their families must make tremendous sacrifices during wartime.

The news isn't always pretty. But a photo like this one is honest in a heartbreaking way. It conveys so much to everyone who looks at it in today's newspaper. Had we not used this photo on the front page, I doubt that our readers would be as emotionally moved by such tragedies as a young soldier -- a beloved husband, father, brother and son -- giving up his life for his country.

I realize that not everyone will agree with me on this, and I wouldn't even ask you to see my point of view. But everyone who looks into the grief on Valerie Lauer's face will know what she has given up for her country. They will have a little better understanding of what's demanded of the men and women who volunteer for the armed services. Nothing can bring it home quite as effectively as this picture.

My deepest sympathy to the entire family of Cpl. Timothy J. Lauer.

-- Kevin Cuneo