Posted on 05/14/2006 1:44:10 PM PDT by LouAvul
Holdenville, OK (AP) - A U-S Marine graduates from Holdenville High School, but isn't able to walk across the stage with his fellow graduates.
During last night's ceremony, Michael Lueking stood in the stands in his dress blues uniform. School officials had told Lueking he wouldn't be able to participate in the ceremony if he refused to wear the school's standard royal blue cap and gown.
Lueking finished high school a semester early so he could fulfill his longtime dream of joining the Marines. He graduated from the 13-week Marine boot camp on May 5th, in time to be home for his high school graduation.
Holdenville Superintendent Shellie Gammill says she couldn't bend the policy or else exceptions would have to be made for other students.
gee thanks, now I've got proof there is a difference between the army and the Marine Corp..
..I think you're right.. if he had graduated from Army basic training he probably wouldn't want to wear his dress uniform.
. however he "earned" the right to become a Marine and he WANTS to wear his dress blues.
that just explains a lot...thanks again.
I agree with the school,cap and gown for graduation.
I do understand. That was my point. Words have meaning. I admire most Marines, and I know a Marine will always be a Marine; but they are not immortal.
And if she wasn't offended by The Dress Blue Uniform of a Marine, he would have been allowed to wear it and collect the diploma he had already earned with the rest of his class.
uh.... ok... I'm good with that.
why don't we do this simple little experiment and you let me know how you think it would come out... ask 100 Marines if they would buck the school administrator and sit out the graduation if not allowed to wear their dress blues and ask 100 army basic training grads what they'd do.
From my small sample of brother Marines, they'd sit out the graduation.... for those stupid Marines that could graduate from high school...that is. Unlike the smart army grads like yourself.
However I've got to tell you that one of my buddies is a former Ranger and he was a lot less charitable than I was when asked about this... in fact he was for wearing his uniform up to the stage and daring somebody to MAKE HIM cover it up.
My feeling is that there'd be some busy doctors if somebody messed with him. He's a real meat eater and proud of his uniform.
First, these school officials are clearly anything but this Marine's superiors, lawful or otherwise. Second, these people had no lawful authority over him whatsoever. These petty little civil servants forbade him from wearing his dress blues in a graduation. In no way was this Marine required to participate in that ceremony or anything else having to do with them.
That "human filth" was his superior until he graduated.
Again, these pantywaisted bureaucrats aren't anyone's superiors in any form. Their authority extends only to the voluntary participation of students in the particular education process they administer. You misuse the term.
Wear the cap and gown.
Spoken just like a mama's boy. This Marine has earned the honor of wearing a far grander form of dress than anything these bureaucrats dare aspire to. Thankfully, this brave member of the United States Marine Corps chose to forgo a ceremony rather than kowtow to these overpaid desk jockeys. They aren't fit to eat his spit.
"Look at me" would have had the marine wear his dress blues under the gown, go up, get the diploma and swap mortarboard for cover and shed the gown on stage.
That symbolism would not be lost, even on public school teachers.
Ahh, there is the the problem. He wasn't on duty as a Marine, he was a high school student who wanted to show off.
Rule is a rule. For someone going into the military...he should start learning to follow the rules.
Most people gave up childish statements like this once they got to Jr. High School.
"Those of you with some knowledge of our history will remember that the service uniform was the mode of dress for graduations and other ceremonies, going back almost to the beginning of our nation."
Not just for the USMC, either, IIRC. I expect you can also confirm for me that Marines don't wear part of their dress uniforms with civilian attire (as the cap and gown most assuredly are)both as a matter of choice and a matter of regulation. I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but I suspect the Marine Corps has rules very similar to those of the USAF on that matter.
Besides, the US military is just another gang, right? Can't have gang attire at school, can we? </Sarcasm> Even though red and blue are very common colors, just not in combination, these days.
I think that's sad...
Hear, hear!! Thank you!!
Good for him!
(And good for us he's on our side!)
He chose not to participate, which is his right.
**Now you know why I have trouble relating to civilians, such as yourself:**
Better adjust because us civilians is your boss marine.
The rules and protocol of the USMC only happens in the military, NOT in the civilian world. That high school gym is the civilian world, got it?
Marine rules do not I repeat do not over rule civilian decisions. If you are the resident of the town where this happened you could complain to the school board before the fact as citizens have the right, but that school official has the power.
I would think that Marine Corps boot camp would teach Marines to be respectful towards civilians and others. What I am seeing on this tread is a bunch of whiny arrogant jarheads who is not reflecting well on the corps nor the marines currently fighting in Iraq.
I am not a civilian, I was active Army and currently National Guard and I strongly suspect I will be over to Iran in a few months to fight among side the Marines who are doing one hell of a good job and the Air Force and the Navy. Civilians are part of that team, the most important part and the one which counts in the end. Those civilians will do some mighty stupid stuff to us in the military at times. From spitting on soldiers returning from Vietnam to not letting a marine walk across the stage to get his diploma. Kipling wrote "Tommy" almost 100 years ago about how civilians treat the military. You may not like them but you better respect civilians or your beloved hard charging corps will be replaced during the future liberal president administration with some wussy outfit and the civilians won't do a thing to stop it.
I do admit that I did some pretty crappy posts on this tread earlier that I would delete if I could but such is life.
He did, and she should have granted an exception
My pride in service doesn't come from graduating boot camp
And I don't give a damn what you think of the Army.
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