Posted on 05/19/2005 7:52:10 AM PDT by Cagey
SAN DIEGO — Steven Kiernan, 17, has two dreams: One is to become a Marine, and the other is to wear his Marine dress-blue uniform to his high school graduation.
Kiernan is close to achieving the first. He has finished all but the final days of the grueling 12-week boot camp in San Diego.
But his goal of wearing his uniform to Petaluma High School's graduation on June 11 appears thwarted.
The principal of the Northern California school notified Kiernan's parents that school rules require that all graduates wear the traditional cap and gown.
Jim Kiernan, Steven's father, plans to appeal the decision to the Petaluma school board at its meeting Tuesday.
"The Marine Corps has traditions, but I guess the school district has traditions too, and the different traditions have collided," he said in a telephone interview.
Jim Kiernan, who works for a vineyard management company, said he was not so much angered by the decision as he was puzzled. Other graduates, he said, will be honored for their achievements, by wearing adornments on their caps or having their names read aloud.
"Finishing boot camp is my son's achievement, and I think he deserves to be honored too," Jim Kiernan said. He's a member of another school board in Sonoma County and says he knows that school boards can overrule principals.
In similar cases this spring involving young Marines returning to their high school graduations in Illinois and Wisconsin, school officials lifted the no-uniforms rule.
Steven finished his course work early at Petaluma High so he could start boot camp. His parents, somewhat reluctantly, signed his enlistment papers.
Principal Mike Simpson said he sympathized with Steven and respects his decision to enlist. Simpson's father was a Marine who saw combat in World War II.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I have to agree with the school. The young man should know that above you have to be a team player. Since everyone else is wearing a cap and gown he should too.
SChools are a joke. They should allow our military special privileges. after all, don't the "gays" get special privileges, i don't see the gays helping our country if you know what i mean. /sarc
Just wear the uniform under the gown, and carry your top soldier. God Bless you.
[[Since everyone else is wearing a cap and gown he should too.]]
I'll bet that if he was a Wiccan transvestite that wanted to wear a dress and "Kiss makeup" that they would have no problem with it.
I agree. Let him wear the uniform under the cap-gown...then take it off when the ceremonies over.
"don't the "gays" get special privileges"
No, they have to wear a cap & gown too.
"I have to agree with the school. The young man should know that above you have to be a team player."
Obviously he did not learn anything in boot camp. Obviously some posters don't think rules apply to people they support.
This guy is supposed to be a Marine. Marines follow the rules, not ask for special favors.
i also agree with the school. i was commissioned as a 2LT in the army the morning of my graduation (1974) from college, wore my gown over my uniform for my college graduation and took the gown off after the ceremony.
One thing to consider here is that since he hasn't finished boot camp, he is not actually a Marine, yet.
It's too bad there isn't some way of recognizing his (imminent) military service with some sort of tassle or other design as part of the hat and/or robe, the way (in college anyway) they do it for graduating with honors or to show the department/college your major was in or etc etc. Maybe some sort of rope or shoulder-piece...
(sorry for the rambling nature of this post)
Maybe his haircut will do the trick. ;)
I remeber when I graduated boot camp, I felt so proud and wanted everyone to know, probably how this guy feels. However, we were taught that conformity was necessary as was being an integral part of a group or team. I don't believe being a Marine has anything to do with the uniform and everything to do with character.
I completely agree with you! The administration wouldn't DARE say anything to him once the ceremony had began.
Bless this young man!
Here's what I would do.
Wear the dress blues under the cap and gown and carry my Marine Corps cover.
Once I received the diploma, take off the cap and put on my Marine Corps cover and pull off the gown!
VOILA!
From the Halls of Montezumaaaaa...to the shores of Tripoli!!!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Just what I was thinking.
No. The kids can go through basic, or boot, or whatever during the summer between thier junior and senior years. Then they go back and finish their training after they graduate. There is a requirement to graduate HS. If not then the enlistment is null & void.
In this kids case, he hasn't even finished his boot camp. In the words of R Lee Ermey, "he's still a maggot." He doesn't deserve the right to be called a marine until he finishes his training.
LOL (i was actually thinking of that same stunt...)
"I agree. Let him wear the uniform under the cap-gown...then take it off when the ceremonies over."
Unfortunatly that is not an option. The uniform must be worn as issued. Nothing can be added. He cannot wear it under his gown. Flame away if you want, but Marines wear our uniform with the pride and respect it deserves.
Semper Fi
This young man is not like everyone else. He has made a commitment to his country to defend it with his life. He should be honored by all his classmates and the administration. He should be allowed to wear his uniform.
In fact, we should have federal legislation (while we control all three branches of government) that says military uniforms are legally acceptable attire in every situation in which the military person chooses to wear them.
Similar to "This note is legal tender for all debts ..."
oops!
Well I stand corrected. LOL
I thought he might be able to wear the cap and gown over his uniform during the commencement and then take it off.
Well I guess he'll just have to take his uniform with him and put it on after the graduation.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
'Might be fake story.'
Have another drink.
Sorry, I didn't realize.
In that case, he should be allowed to walk in his uniform.
Wow. You sure know alot about Marines.
That said, I'm not for federal legislation on much of anything!
"Unfortunatly that is not an option. The uniform must be worn as issued. Nothing can be added. He cannot wear it under his gown. Flame away if you want, but Marines wear our uniform with the pride and respect it deserves.
Semper FiOh"
I don't know that either...bummer, but respectful! :)
Some sort of new allowance in a DEP, possible with parental consent...?
ping
Hahahaha! Perfect response.
I'm glad you referred to it being a cover as someone earlier had called it a "top".
If the school did not enforce this, then the dress policy would go out of control as students dressed up as freaks.
As heart swelling as the sight of his Enlisted Dress Blue uniform would be, he must know the reason for a uniform and as such should wear the cap and gown proudly.
I'm not sure, but I believe that may not be allowable under Marine regulations regarding the wearing of the uniform. Can any Freeper Marine confirm?
Already been confirmed by sean327 (post 21).
Thanks for the updated info!
This is not a bogus story. If a recruit has completed all course requirements, as verified by the school, he or she may report to Recruit Training. I know a number of Marines that have done this, or as recruiters have put a kid through the pipeline.
I'm not going to flame.....I didn't know the rules on wearing the uniform and I don't really have a problem myself...with him wearing it at graduation. It's hard to believe that this issue has not come up before with other schools.
I suspected this was possible, as some kids fulfill graduation requirements the first semester of Senior year. Thanks for confirming!
"Steven finished his course work early at Petaluma High so he could start boot camp."
Lots of people that I know finished high school in the first semester of their last year by taking extra classes during the summer or (in my case) being promoted on to college instead of finishing the last year of high school. Since graduations typically happen only once/year for any given school, you've technically graduated, but have to wait to walk.
Sounds like he finished his schooling in December and promptly signed up (with his parents consent, since he is under 18).
Thx.
If he were a muslim asking to wear a burqua then that would be alright. I would also wager the principal would probably kiss the muzlimb's ass on prime time T.V.at the graduation. The liberals/commies/muzlums all hate American Patriots. NSNR
And .. what's to stop him from wearing his uniform UNDER the gown ..?? As soon as graduation is over - he can remove the gown and VOILA! he's in uniform.
I don't see the issue .. really. I applaud the young man's choice of the Marines, but this is a high school graduation - not a Marines graduation.
see Post 21.
But .. the robe isn't an addition to the uniform .. is it ..?? just because it's worn over the uniform ..?? Hmmmm?? Interesting.
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