The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Pathfinder on June 09, 2011, 04:12:51 PM
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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/09/pennsylvania-marine-barred-from-wearing-uniform-for-high-school-graduation/ (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/09/pennsylvania-marine-barred-from-wearing-uniform-for-high-school-graduation/)
Semper No: Pennsylvania Marine Barred From Wearing Uniform at High School Graduation
Published June 09, 2011
"Once a Marine, always a Marine" apparently doesn't apply at a Pennsylvania high school where a 17-year-old graduate has been told she cannot wear her uniform when she receives her diploma.
Lindsay Starr told KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh she wanted to wear her dress blues during Friday's graduation ceremony at North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, but that school officials denied her request, citing the requirement of wearing only the traditional cap and gown.
"I’m just trying to show pride in what I belong to now," she told the station. "I belong to the United States Marine Corps as a 17-year-old. Like, c’mon, now."
Starr, of Wexford, Pa., could not be reached for comment on Thursday. She graduated from the school early and joined the Marines, having recently finished three months in boot camp, KDKA reports.
School officials, however, have said the policy is clear: Graduates must wear a cap and gown bearing the school colors. Similar requests have been received in the past and they have also been rejected.
<end of article snippet>
None of the website's links work for the administration or the School Board on their own website (in a great Gomer Pyle voice - Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!!!), but here is the contact information for the school itself:
Website: http://www.nallegheny.k12.pa.us/schools/nash/nashhome.htm (http://www.nallegheny.k12.pa.us/schools/nash/nashhome.htm)
Phone: (724) 934-7200.
Principal: Mr. Walter Sieminski
Ya know, just in case you want to call and politely ::) express your opinion on this kerfuffle.
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Wonder what the school would say if a Muslim student requested to wear a head scarf instead of the cap?
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How is entiled to dress blues at 17? Those only come after after boot camp and I think 17 is as young as you can join. Still, she should just show up and wear them, what are they going to do, tell she can't have her diploma? It would take a damn stupid principal to do that in public. ;)
FQ13
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The only reason I went to my high school graduation was under threat of physical violence from my mom and I did not go to my college one.
As much as the youngster should be proud of becoming a US Marine, wear the cap and gown like the rest of your class. It's not nice to brag! ;D
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How is entiled to dress blues at 17? Those only come after after boot camp and I think 17 is as young as you can join. Still, she should just show up and wear them, what are they going to do, tell she can't have her diploma? It would take a damn stupid principal to do that in public. ;)
FQ13
Do you ever bother to read the article listed? She graduated early, attended and graduated from Marine Corp basic training. She's more of a Marine than you could ever be. My brother was in the Navy, on active duty, for nearly five months before he turned 18...
Reading your crap is getting tedious...
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The only reason I went to my high school graduation was under threat of physical violence from my mom and I did not go to my college one.
As much as the youngster should be proud of becoming a US Marine, wear the cap and gown like the rest of your class. It's not nice to brag! ;D
I wore a pair of Chuck Taylor high tops, some cut off jeans and a t-shirt to mine back in '75 (under the cap and gown). Mom wasn't too happy but that's the breaks...graduated and then closed the nearest bar!
;D
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Do you ever bother to read the article listed? She graduated early, attended and graduated from Marine Corp basic training. She's more of a Marine than you could ever be. My brother was in the Navy, on active duty, for nearly five months before he turned 18...
Reading your crap is getting tedious...
My bad, I was in a rush. I wasn't knocking the Marines, just pointing out that 17 seemed young. :-[
FQ13
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I joined the army at 17. I just needed my parents to sign some papers for me. It's no big deal.
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My bad, I was in a rush. I wasn't knocking the Marines, just pointing out that 17 seemed young. :-[
FQ13
Then, you should go clean the crapper in the corner with your toothbrush!
::)
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Then, you should go clean the crapper in the corner with your toothbrush!
::)
Weren't the hooters girls doing that or is this their night off? ;D
FQ13
In all seriousness, I did just miss the "graduated early" bit and was a bit surprised at someone being able to complete basic while still in HS. No offense intended.
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I enlisted at 17 as well, in the Marines.
The fact of FQ getting things wrong has become a non event, kind of like the sun coming up in the East ::)
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I enlisted at 17 as well, in the Marines.
The fact of FQ getting things wrong has become a non event, kind of like the sun coming up in the East ::)
I was a reservist at 17 and went to basic seven months later. They called it "Delayed Entry" to ensure I got the tech school I enlisted for. When I separated, I only had the remaining reserve time to serve of 17 months.
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I missed my HS graduation because I was in boot camp. I attended the prom in my dress whites.
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I had quit school at 16, back in those days if your ASVAB score was high enough a diploma was not required.
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Not cool for the school. We had guys I graduated with wearing their Army uniforms under their gown. Of course they wore the cap and kept their cover under their gown. After graduation they took their caps off and replaced it with their covers. No issues.
As for Timothy and the Chuck Taylors: I graduated and went to prom in black leather Chuck Taylors '87. ;D I still have a couple of pairs in the closet.
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I still have a pair of high tops around here somewhere. Easily the most uncomfortable shoes I own, I can't wear them anymore. I can't believe that that was about as high a quality shoe you could buy in the 60-70's. I started wearing Puma basketball shoes later but even those aren't what they once were.
New Balance is about all I wear anymore and I always have some Sperry Topsiders, they're like wearing slippers.
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New Balance is about all I wear anymore and I always have some Sperry Topsiders, they're like wearing slippers.
Man, Timothy, great minds think alike.
New Balance for running/walking/standing. Top Siders (Authentic Originals of course) for everyday wear. Wear them like slippers or moccasins. Actually have 2 pair. The older one is for bumming around the house and the new pair is for going out.
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There should ALWAYS be exceptions to dress codes to include the uniforms or our military. PERIOD!
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I joined the army at 17. I just needed my parents to sign some papers for me. It's no big deal.
In the Navy, you would have been a "kiddy cruiser." Sign up with parent's permission at 17, get out at 21 with all your college paid for and the VA to back your home purchase. Not a bad deal.
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If the Cap and Gown dress code has never had any exceptions I'd say the school should keep it that way.
On the other hand, if this young lady completed the traditional Marine Boot Camp at age 17 while still in HS, I don't know if I'd want to be the one to tell her what she can and can't do..
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I'm with ratcatcher to a point:
She is a Marine and always will be! The proper channels, right or wrong, are saying don't wear the uniform. Show up and participate like the rest of your classmates, but let you friends and family make sure that every media outlet knows the rudeness of the school administration and how you still supported your school and classmates by following their ruling.
Sad move by the school administration, but there is an easy way for them to be known for their narrow mindedness.
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There should ALWAYS be exceptions to dress codes to include the uniforms or our military. PERIOD!
I agree with that.
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Perhaps this is a job for the Patriot Guard Riders.
She should wear her uniform and be escorted by them, then put on the cap and gown over it...to be removed soonest.
Point will be made.
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Perhaps this is a job for the Patriot Guard Riders.
She should wear her uniform and be escorted by them, then put on the cap and gown over it...to be removed soonest.
Point will be made.
????? If she went to boot camp she better understand uniform of the day.
As suggested if she want to wear her blues under the cap and gown, god bless her.
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You don't cover the Blues... kudos to the young lady for graduating early and moving on to the Marines. Yes any young person who has earned the right to wear a Service uniform should be allowed to do so if they ask but if the answer is "no", suck it up and accept the "uniform of the day" or don't attend. We had a similar incident in our area just after my oldest graduated from boot camp. His take at the time was "the dude just walked off the Parade Deck as an f..ing MARINE and he's bent about high school shit...BFD!".
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You don't cover the Blues... kudos to the young lady for graduating early and moving on to the Marines. Yes any young person who has earned the right to wear a Service uniform should be allowed to do so if they ask but if the answer is "no", suck it up and accept the "uniform of the day" or don't attend. We had a similar incident in our area just after my oldest graduated from boot camp. His take at the time was "the dude just walked off the Parade Deck as an f..ing MARINE and he's bent about high school shit...BFD!".
After seeing some of the suggestions regarding wearing the gown over the dress blues, I was suggest this, so I am glad you pointed it out first.
After due consideration, I have to agree that once asked and when the school admin stupidly responded the way they did, she should wear the gown for as little time as possible, and wear the blues the rest of the time.
As a side note, I've gotten some notes from my boy in San Diego - things are going well for him, boot is an eye-opener to be sure, especially at his age (26), and he is already seeing some of the issues that DIs and other leaders have to deal with, like fidgety recruits who are supposed to be still at attention. He should graduate in August - pictures then.
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????? If she went to boot camp she better understand uniform of the day.
As suggested if she want to wear her blues under the cap and gown, god bless her.
I agree with that....but there is noting wrong with working to get the uniform of the day rules changed to make your current service uniform an exception.
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Not a hijack but at least a sidetrack:
Path, Good to hear your boy is doing OK...what evolution is he on & what battalion/company? In the event you don't know the company that does their patoon and grad pictures has a site to view online, PM me if you would like the site.
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There should ALWAYS be exceptions to dress codes to include the uniforms or our military. PERIOD!
I agree wholeheartedly!
My brother, then a Lt. Cmdr, wore his dress whites to my wedding! He was quite a sight!
That was 27 years ago this Labor Day weekend and the scrawny little turd can still wear the same uniform today whereas, his baby brother has gone up a few dress sizes!
:D