A newly minted Marine, decked out in his dress blues, was denied the opportunity to walk in his high school graduation ceremony last week. Pfc. Jacob Stanley graduated from Marine Corps boot camp and flew home to attend his high school graduation ceremony.
It was during the rehearsal, according to the Northwest Times of Indiana, that Crown Point High School principal Chip Pettit informed Stanley he wouldn’t be permitted to wear his dress blues for the graduation ceremony.
School officials said all students should wear a cap and gown.
But Stanley opted to wear them to the June 6 ceremony anyway, and was turned away and not permitted to walk with his classmates to receive his diploma. School officials did not read his name when the graduates were announced, the Times wrote.
Stanley’s classmates and numerous others have showed support for Stanley on social media.
"If his achievement is joining the armed forces, he should have been able to do that," Crown Point graduate Leann Tustison told the Times. "The students were outraged. There were some students who were going to walk in solidarity with Jake. It was a disgrace."
"It was despicable that he wasn't allowed to wear his uniform," Jessica Janda told the Times. "We should be proud of that as Americans. He should have been able to wear his military uniform."
Pettit responded to the Times by email, saying the school's tradition has been for all students to wear a cap and gown, and those recognized for military service can in addition wear stoles or chords.
"This tradition is not intended to be disrespectful to students, parents, or our community, but as a source of pride for our students," Pettit told the Times. "It is also not intended to be disrespectful to our students choosing to serve in the military, our active duty servicemen and women and our veterans. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices that they make on a daily basis for our freedom."
Mackenzie Wolf is an editorial intern for Military Times.
