Good point and very sensible. It would seem that an exception could be made for the military because of the military's unique contributions, but then where would it stop?
As you said, every odd-ball in the graduating class would then want the same freedom. An anti-war activist might want to wear a "stop all wars" sign around his neck. The president of the drama club might want to go dressed as Shakespeare. Sounds far-fetched, but remember you're dealing with teenagers.
“every odd-ball in the graduating class would then want the same freedom.”
And then you tell them NO, you cannot wear your “San Francisco gay academy of buttlove and war protest” sash. The Military is the sole exception. They are the ONLY ones who might be dead in a few months,,, for everyone else. The schools arent doing this to be fair,,, they hate the military.
The bizzare idea that every student deserves equal respect at that moment is similar to the way they wont let kids keep score in the baseball game. Theres nothing wrong with publically recognizing them, and refusing it to other activities.