It may be impossible to believe that in this day and age that a school would actually encourage a young man to violate his self-integrity and sense of ethics - but that is exactly what happened when I contacted the assistant principal at San Marcos high school.
My stepson worked hard to complete his academic goals so he could join the Marines, complete boot camp in time to return to his high school graduation and, ultimately, wear his Marine Corps dress uniform.
He has accomplished everything, so far.
He is attending Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego as I write this.
My wife informed me recently that her son would be denied the right to wear his Marine dress uniform at his HS graduation. I contacted the assistant principal, Ed Behrens, to try to confirm this.
He informed me that the only way that my stepson would be able to wear his Marine dress uniform would be underneath the school-mandated cap and gown.
As a former Marine, I know that this would violate Marine Corps dress code regulations and I informed Mr. Behrens of this fact.
His response took me by surprise since he doubted that there would be anyone present to enforce those regulations.
I then told him that my stepson has the self-integrity and sense of ethics to know that he was doing something wrong, regardless of whether anyone was there to enforce that code upon him.
Mr Behrens literally scoffed at such a notion.
We continued our call long enough to be clear that my stepson had no other options available but to comply to the school-mandated code (or violate the dress code regulations of the USMC), even though my stepson had earned the right to wear the uniform of a US Marine.
I hung up completely amazed that I had had that conversation with such a person that holds such a position at our local high school.
Beyond the fact that my stepson has earned the right to wear his Marine uniform upon completion of boot camp, beyond the fact that San Marcos allows recruiters to approach students on their campus and therefore should take some responsibility for the young men and women that decide to pursue that path, beyond all these factors - it still amazes me that a school assistant principal would actually endorse a young man to violate what is right solely on the reasoning that no one would be there to catch him.
My stepson will soon complete his Marine training and will have the right to wear his uniform that is a symbol of our freedom - he should be able to wear this uniform in the proper manner at any and all events held in this country.
I ask all veterans, parents of fellow servicemen and women, and any person that recognizes the debt we owe to anyone that volunteers to stand in the military to please help in this matter.
Thank you.
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .