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Sunday, May 14, 2006

Marines vs. graduation cap

This might only be news in our little corner of the world, but it's an interesting story. A young Marine, Michael Lueking had to stand on the sidelines and watch his classmates graduate because his high school wouldn't let him wear his uniform.

Now this was obviously not a slacker, or a trouble-making student. This kid worked to graduate a semester early, joined the Marines and, rightly so, is proud of his USMC choice and the uniform that symbolizes so much. Obviously some at his school -- just dont' get it.

So where's the ACLU on this one? I think school officials overreacted, and it would not have in any way diminished the graduation. It's not like he wanted to graduate in his football uniform. What do ya'll think?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

You know, I think I'll side with the school. If you let him graduate in uniform, what about the hard-core football players? The cheerleaders?

I know at some schools there is a tradition of letting military graduate in uniform (lookin' at you, A&M), but it just seemed out of place to me.

Maybe if he was being commissioned during the graduation ceremony, I could see it. But just to show he's a Marine, eh.

Gina said...

I agree with Sherrie here. It's a slippery slope waiting to happen. Some kids at my school would have shown up in their hockey uniforms, including pads and helmets, if given the chance.

I don't think this has anything to do with the town or school not being proud of Lueking or "not getting" his pride in his military service. It's not some big statement on what he stands for. I think it simply has to do with the fact that it's graduation day, and that the school has traditions that it would like the students to honor.

Carmel said...

I can see both sides. But I guess being the former military wife that I am, I don't equate a football uniform with a U.S. Marine Corps uniform. Semper Fi.