Marine Fights To Wear Dress Blues At High School Graduation

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/marine-lance-cpol.html ^ | April 10, 2009

[Steelfish]

Marine fights to wear dress blues at high school graduation

April 10, 2009

Marine Pfc. Garrett Miles-McCarthy graduated from boot camp in San Diego only last month but he is already in his first battle: against his hometown school board.

The 18-year-old wants to wear his dress blues uniform at his high school graduation ceremony in El Paso, Texas. He finished his coursework in December and immediately shipped out to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

School officials have said no, that all grads have to wear cap and gown, no exceptions. The mayor, a local congressman and others are backing Miles-McCarthy, who says wearing the uniform will show his pride in being a Marine and his support for his father, a career soldier bound for Iraq.

The school board will take up the red-hot issue Tuesday, the same day Miles-McCarthy is set to return to duty for advance training.

[Bryanw92]

I’m with the school board on this one. Wear the cap and gown like your fellow graduates. The gown comes off immediately after the graduation anyway. He’ll have the rest of the night to wear his uniform proudly.

[Uhaul]

"Should a transvestite student be allowed to wear a blue dress?"

Why should there be equality or reciprocity? No - transvestite freaks don't get to wear dresses. Yes - Marines get to wear uniforms. Don't like it? Get the F out of my country. I have no tolerance left. Don't want to leave? Then let the war begin already.

[Uhaul]

Quit letting the left define our society people.

[P-Marlowe]

Why should there be equality or reciprocity?

Because that is the way it works, my FRiend.

Yes - Marines get to wear uniforms. Don't like it? Get the F out of my country.

Marines are expected to wear the uniform of the day. If they can't do that, then they don't last long in the Marines. The cap and gown is a uniform. The tradition is that all students wear the same uniform because all students are getting the same honor on that day.

This Marine has already worn the Dress Blues to one graduation ceremony which honored graduating recruits. That was uniform of that day. The uniform for graduation from high school is a cap and gown. Everyone should be wearing the same uniform. He is not being recognized for accomplishments made AFTER he left high school. He is being honored for the accomplishments he made IN high school. He should be honored to wear a cap and gown with his fellow students.

[GreyMountainReagan]

I dread graduation season for this reason: everyone thinks they’re special and want to stand out like a sore thumb.

Wear the uniform under the gown and be silent.

---

Me too.

I especially hate when people want to be individuals. Better that we all look, think and act exactly as the liberal public school has tried to instill in us and our children. /sarc off/

Are you a teacher?

Why don’t you quit trying to stand out and be silent.

[GreyMountainReagan]

Why should there be equality or reciprocity? No - transvestite freaks don’t get to wear dresses. Yes - Marines get to wear uniforms. Don’t like it? Get the F out of my country. I have no tolerance left. Don’t want to leave? Then let the war begin already

---

Amen, Amen, Amen Amen, Amen, Amen Amen, Amen, Amen.

Then cancel the whole freakin thing when others fight for their exceptions. Like another said it is just one last stab for the liberals to stick their crap into the hearts of our kids why we sit around clapping.

[GreyMountainReagan]

How about when someone wants to wear military dress uniform we say excellent,
when someone want to wear his eagle scout uniform we go right ahead
when some guy wants to wear a dress we say take a freakin hike.

[P-Marlowe]

when some guy wants to wear a dress we say take a freakin hike.

This is a public school... In El Paso Texas. Be thankful that these students are required to wear the same uniform (cap and gown). Otherwise the uniform of the day would be Gangsta white t-shirts with baggy pants and chains.

[Hot Tabasco]

I don't know about this.

I do, tell them to stuff it and go out to dinner with your parents and friends instead.

There ain't no requirement that you have to walk across a stage in order to graduate.........just a waste of time.

[dalereed]

They should eliminate graduation and just mail the diplomas.

I went to my high school one but didn’t bother with college and had them mail it.

[BobL]

“Marine Fights To Wear Dress Blues At High School Graduation”

I don’t see why his orientation should matter.

[Domandred]

He should wear the dress blues under his cap and gown.

That's what I was thinking, solves both problems, unless there is a uniform code that says you can't wear a grad gown over dress uniform.

[HattonFarmer]

My thoughts exactly, and I was USAF. Schools are all too often cesspools of liberal intolerance (did I just repeat meyself?). Let the Marine stand out, it is their natural
condition!

[Arguendo]

Why not just skip graduation if the ceremony means so little to him? Because the cap and gown have been a part of graduation ceremonies for centuries.

[Arguendo]

President Bush I, who did in fact join the military right out of high school is the sort who respects tradition in a way few do anymore. He would certainly advocate the cap and gown when appropriate (at a graduation ceremony) and the military uniform when appropriate.

If I’m not mistaken, the dress uniform is considered an appropriate substitute for business or formal wear, and should obviously be allowed at an event where students wear suits. But graduation is a special event with its own uniform, and I don’t think it would be appropriate etiquette to wear a military uniform in place of this.

[concentric circles]

There was a similar situation in Los Angeles County. The principal initially declined the request based on existing policy but experiencing personal conflict over the situation he later reversed himself as described in the following letter. The school board affirmed his decision and wrote a new graduation policy to allow for military uniforms.

In recognition of those who serve our country
Bill Bolde - March 6, 2009

Over the past six years, Saugus High School has had nine graduating seniors gain acceptance to various academies of the United States armed forces.

We know that more than 100 other Centurion students over that time have made a commitment to join the U.S. military and serve their country.

As principal, I’ve been most proud of these students’ accomplishments and their willingness to be trained to one day trek to remote parts of the world to man a post or engage in combat to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.

These students embody bravery, courage and leadership. I respect their character and I long to honor their commitment.

Recently, I received a request by a parent of a student who graduated early to allow her son to walk in the commencement ceremony this June in full Marine dress blues.

My original thoughts can best be categorized under two umbrellas — personal values and school protocols. Fundamentally, I value the human price we pay as a nation each year to protect our liberties. Affording a student who graduated early and who is proud of his new title as a United States Marine to walk in his uniform at graduation is a positive thing for the student, the school and the community.

Administratively, I recognized that we have never done anything like this before. We have consistently had the practice of all graduates wearing the traditional cap and gown during the ceremony.

In fact, we’ve always had the wording in the contract for seniors that specifically states “no alterations, substitutions or modifications” may be made to the attire.

As is common with many leaders in all walks of life, I take council with many of my administrative peers, educational colleagues and respected friends.

Through the process of searching for the appropriate resolve, I entertained calls from Congressman McKeon’s office and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office. I had conversations with Mr. Castellanos, my superintendent, as well as other district leaders.

I have even talked directly to officers of the U.S. Marine Corps. I believe it is always most prudent to gather as much information as possible while making significant decisions that affect a lot of people.

Last Friday, I called the young man’s mom and asked if we might be able to meet again. I wanted to hear her heart and try to look through a new lens.

She conveyed to me the importance of her son’s wish to wear the uniform. From the time he was a toddler, all he wanted was to be a Marine.

We had a wonderful exchange and I told her that I would not only advocate for her son to walk in his uniform, but I would champion a resolution that would allow other students who become members of the military as early grads the same accord.

That night, I was able to talk to the Saugus graduate who was in basic training at Camp Pendleton. It was an inspiring conversation.

The next morning, I went to my office and drafted some language that could be presented to Administrative Council and, upon approval, be forwarded to the governing board.

I feel confident that that process is going down a positive pathway for this year and in the future ... for Saugus High School and all schools in the Hart district.

I am a proud American who honors and prays daily for our military leaders as well as the men and women all over the world who make up our armed forces.

My intent has never been to dishonor those who stand watch for our liberties. This week, I have had follow-up conversations with the mom and know that she has been very complimentary of the resolution to her son’s request.

Her son, Nicholas Laccabue, is going to walk proudly in his dress blues at the Saugus High School graduation ceremony June 3.

I am looking forward to putting the Lamp of Learning medallion around his neck, shaking his hand and telling him “well done” as he crosses the stage.

Bear in mind that local sensiblilities are reflected in the fact that the school district is named after this early patron.

[Echo4C]

Not that I agree with his decision to wear the uniform (as a veteran Marine myself), but that would be a big no-no. Wearing ANYTHING with a uniform that is not considered an official uniform article is a violation of the dress standard and is punishable.

[usmcobra]

Caps and gowns are bought and rented,
Dress Blues are earned,
Tassels hang faded from rear view mirrors,
The title “Marine” is worn to the grave.
Let his classmates see what he has become.

[Semper Mark]

If he shows up in his blue’s, who’s going to turn this young Devil-Pup away?
I’d like to see them try.

OOH-RAH!

[murron]

That’s not exactly a great way to begin his Marine career, by disobeying authority.

I remember when I was getting married in the mid-70s, we wanted all of our male attendants to wear tuxes. We were even paying for their tuxes. (Back then, we could rent them for $10 each). Well, one of our groomsmen had been in the Army and one was still in the Navy. They both wanted to wear their dress uniforms instead. I wanted all the groomsmen to dress alike, and being as their dress uniforms were different, I was afraid that it wouldn’t look good to have everyone wearing different articles of clothing.

They got very insulted and almost didn’t stand in my wedding, until my husband talked them into wearing the tuxes. This was at a time when sensitivities were high about the Viet Nam War and anti-war sentiments. I was, and still am, very pro-military and that had nothing to do with my decision.

In hindsight, I should have backed down and let them wear the dress uniforms, especially now that I have a son in the military and know how important it is.