New Hampshire senior not allowed to wear Marine uniform at graduation
If a young man or woman volunteers to serve in the military, you would think their school would respect the uniform.
Gabriella Morrongiello of Red Alert Politics reports.
N.H. high school student being forced to wear cap and gown over Marine Corps uniform at graduation
A New Hampshire high school senior who recently completed Marine Corps training has been told that he’s not allowed to openly wear his military uniform at his graduation this weekend because it goes against the idea of having a “unified class celebration of the accomplishment of achieving a high school diploma.”
Brandon Garabrant, an 18-year-old student at ConVal Regional High School in Petersborough, N.H., was planning on wearing his dress blues as he crossed the stage, but the school is not letting him – instead insisting that he wear the uniform under his cap and gown.
“I think covering up with a cap and gown is disgraceful to the uniform,” Garabrant’s mother, Jessie, told WMUR. “Brandon earned this right and he went above and beyond what he needed to do in high school.”
The family learned of the school’s policy when Jessie was sent an email from the school principal informing her that the high school’s student council expects all students to wear caps and gowns – regardless of the fact that members of the military are required to wear their uniforms to ceremonies.
“With all due respect to the military, it’s not a celebration of what’s next, what’s after that,” ConVal Principal Brian Pickering told the New Hampshire Union Leader. “This has been a procedure for a number of years at ConVal High School.
The email did say that Brandon can wear cords or pins on his gown, but he doesn’t want his uniform hidden at all.
N.H. high school student being forced to wear cap and gown over Marine Corps uniform at graduation (Red Alert Politics)
Comments
Unless USMC regulations have changed wildly in the last few years it is a violation of those regulations for an active duty Marine to alter or cover his/her uniform in any manner. Further, it is not appropriate to wear the uniform if no longer on active duty serving as an active reservist. So, one way or another, wearing the Marine uniform in this situation is likely a violation of regulations and of good common sense. I’m glad he is proud of the uniform. I certainly am of mine. So don’t bring unnecessary controversy to it by forcing it into an inappropriate situation or context.
Con Val is a bad joke of a high school. This is not the first time it’s embarrassed itself and it won’t be the last. The school ought to be grateful that Brandon wants to particpate in a ceremony at which dozens of dullards and spolied brats will get the same diploma he receives.