Twenty-eight years ago, Walter Cronkite retired as anchor of the CBS Evening News after reaching the then-mandatory retirement age of 65. A quarter-century later, he was back on the air on that same broadcast, introducing Katie Couric.

When Cronkite died on Friday, CBS made a decision to force him into retirement a second time, by pulling the recording of Couric’s introduction because “it just didn’t feel right,” according to CBS News president Sean McManus via the New York Times:

“It’s been a wonderful presence and a wonderful way to remember Walter, but I think it’s probably not appropriate to use his name introducing the evening news [after his death].”

When Couric presented a special West Coast edition of the CBS Evening News Friday night to cover Cronkite’s passing, his voice was heard for the final time. On Saturday night’s edition, a special half-hour paying tribute to the program’s former anchor hosted again by Couric, CBS’s normal news announcer introduced her.

Cronkite was off the air. At least, that was the plan.

But plans change.

This afternoon, the Associated Press reported that Walter was staying put. Cronkite’s family, it turns out, gave their blessing to the network’s continued use of the introduction, and on Monday night, it was once again Uncle Walter we heard before Katie read the top story.

I’m glad they decided to keep him on the show. Somehow, in this instance, it seems appropriate.