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.
Having served multiple terms as a school board president I can say that if this young MARINE wanted to cross our stage he would've. As for the arsehat who'd want to cross in a tutu, fine, as long as it was a Tutu issued by the department of defense for one of the five branchs of the service. Once again the service of a fine upstanding fighting man stands tall to defend the rights.
Stupid schools.
Can they display a much higher disregard for the country or those willing to serve it?
Those school officials deserve to be hounded until they and all like them are removed from their posts.
Holdenville? Naw, it's up to 'bout 5500 now. Real metropolis. I think Barney Fife quit the police dept a few years back, but I'm sure you can find Andy around if you really look good.
And it's a nice town 'cept maybe on Friday nights down by the ball field.
Hey Holdenvillers, I'm ribbin' ya.
Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!!!
Maybe...but he chose to protect those in the stands as did the Army graduate. They should be honored and cherished. Not "made an exception".
If some a-hole can't figure out the difference between a Disney outfit and Armed Forces Uniform... that's what God gave us "common sense" for.
As for the rest of you that think he's was wrong... I disagree. He is part of a brotherhood that he will be with forever. He will be immortal, not as a graduate of Bum F#ck Highschool but as a United States Marine. Every man (whose worth being a man) wishes that he had the fricking balls to try to earn the title "Marine". Especially at this time when his MOS is first and foremost "rifleman" infantry... as all Marines are.... he will be in harms way, he will do his duty. I pray that he returns to be a healthy, happy OLD Marine... but either way, by choosing his Dress Blues over cap and gown I know for a fact that he "gets" it.
IF some of you still don't understand what being a Marine is all about...let me show you....
Patriot...Marine Corp
Public High School's Ideal Patriot
Would the Marines allow him to dress in a cap and gown for boot camp closing ceremonies?
Would the Marines allow him to dress in a cap and gown for boot camp closing ceremonies?
Good post, I concur. She did the right thing and he did the right thing. That's my view.
I did not say I thought he was grandstanding, and I do not believe that. I do think he should have put on the cap and gown and graduated with the rest of his class. That said, I'm enormously proud of this young man.
And that said, I'm not at all angry at the school district. Holdenville is a small town, and although you're right about common sense--you can't count on everyone having it. Some dufus would, sure as I'm sitting here typing, insist on graduating in his Cindy Sheehan suit. And if refused, he'd do his best to sue the socks off the school district--a huge expense for legal defense against the ACLU would ensue.
Then why are we reading about it on FR?
Hey Marine, what say you? May a Marine in dress be uncovered indoors?
No, he won't. He is a man who is also a Marine. I'm sure he is proud of being a Marine, as he should be; but he is not immortal.
He did what he had to and the school did what they had to. No harm, no foul.
It worked out just as it should have!
He should'a worn his Marine uniform under his cap and gown; gone to the stage, get diploma, and strip off the cap and gown to reveal the hero that he's going to be!
Please point out where I said anything about feelings. Point out, also, where any disrespect to this fine young man was indicated. And if you can't understand the concept of "the right time and the right place," then you're beyond reason anyway.
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